The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and PTSD with depression. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions and entitlement to a TDIU are inextricably intertwined.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for additional medical evidence and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine (low back disability), Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20061673
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 20061673.
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 Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his low back disability and cervical spine disability to his military service. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a VA psychiatric examination to address the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and its impact on his employability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date and higher initial ratings for service-connected low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with depression, effective February 1, 2023.
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