The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and TDIU prior to March 31, 2018 are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.
The deciding factor: Further development is required as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information on the current severity of the Veteran's back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome, thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis and mild scoliosis of the lumbar spine, bulging disc L5 and synovial cyst
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20064695
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 the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection back disorder, as due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE), was dismissed because the appeal request was not timely filed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 26, 2021, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.