The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, but has remanded issues regarding narcotic bowel syndrome and TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, which is required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21039762
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21039762.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports. The VA examiner was not able to provide specific degrees of motion in each state and did not estimate the additional loss of range of motion upon flare-ups.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The Veteran was already receiving the highest possible evaluation for his thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease, and there is no indication of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant higher ratings.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA examination regarding eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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