The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use over time of his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran needs a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide sufficient information on the degree of functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use, which is necessary for evaluating the Veteran's disability under the rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20059325
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 20059325.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, characterized as degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.
- Denied
The Veteran's back disability has not been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected back disability is denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of June 22, 2009 for the resumption of VA disability compensation benefits. The Veteran's separation pay was not recouped earlier due to a one-year waiting period following her second period of active service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
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