The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his low back and left foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations, as well as consideration of recently amended rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for updated medical evidence and consideration of recent changes in how musculoskeletal disabilities are rated.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar spine, Fractures, great and second toes, left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21024172
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 21024172.
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 case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding informed consent and causation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, TDIU, and SMC are also being remanded.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthrosis, right hand disability, DDD, lumbar spine, and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or within a year of separation. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any direct relationship between these conditions and active military service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted for the period from September 6, 2016 to November 4, 2019. The appeal is denied for any rating in excess of 40 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for GERD and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) in the lumbar spine.
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