The Board has ordered another examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, address whether any current back disability pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active service beyond normal progression, and address whether any current back disability had its onset during service, within one year after service, or is otherwise the result of a disease or injury in service.
The deciding factor: The Board ordered an addendum opinion to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability (including degenerative arthritis), Levoscoliosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007308
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 21007308.
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 Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected levoscoliosis and lumbosacral strain have been granted a 10 percent rating since April 25, 2022. The right wrist disability has been increased to 60 percent since that date. SMC for loss of use of the left hand is denied.
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