The Board has ordered a new examination for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine and both feet disabilities due to incomplete examination reports. The issues of increased ratings remain in remand status.
The deciding factor: Incomplete examination reports were found, necessitating further evaluation by VA examiners.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar pain syndrome with degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, Right foot stress fracture with plantar fasciitis and hammertoe deformity, Left foot stress fracture with plantar fasciitis and hammertoe deformity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20059086
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20059086.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations of the Veteran's thoracolumbar pain syndrome and stress fractures of both feet due to inadequate examination reports. The AOJ is required to arrange new examinations that comply with 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.40, 4.45, and 4.59.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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