The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for thoracolumbar sprain and a TDIU claim due to new evidence received since the April 2020 SSOC.
The deciding factor: New evidence was submitted that is pertinent to the rating criteria for the back, necessitating further review by the AOJ.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar sprain, somatic symptom disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20069702
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 service connection for somatic symptom disorder, respiratory disorders (including COPD), nephrolithiasis, deviated nasal septum, and higher initial disability ratings for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and GERD, hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus.
- Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent ratings for left knee arthritis (flexion), left knee strain arthritis (extension), and left knee instability, as well as a 20 percent rating for left ankle chronic sprain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and restored the 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar sprain, effective June 1, 2024, while denying an increased rating. The Board also remanded a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 20, 2021 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance but denied a higher rating than 50 percent for somatic symptom disorder from June 13, 2024 to February 12, 2025.
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