The Board has denied a higher disability evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, but has remanded her claim for entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21015140
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 21015140.
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 Veteran's TDIU claim, including extraschedular consideration, is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The case should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of September 3, 2019 for the service connection claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, residuals of left foot surgery, scar of the left foot, painful scar of the left foot, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as it pertains to service connection for various conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of any claims.
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