The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an adequate VA examination.
The deciding factor: The July 2020 VA examiner's opinion was deemed inadequate as it did not consider all relevant evidence and provided speculative conclusions.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine degenerative disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21032644
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 21032644.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was incurred in or caused by military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request in a letter dated April 2017.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on forward flexion, combined range of motion, or muscle spasm and localized tenderness. However, separate evaluations were granted for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (10 percent) from August 26, 2011, through September 23, 2012; for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (20 percent) from September 23, 2012, through March 2, 2014; and for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (10 percent) beginning July 1, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a higher rating for his back disability were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.
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