The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition prior to January 23, 2015. The examiner was unable to provide specific additional range of motion loss during flare-ups or repeated use without an in-person examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the September 2021 addendum opinion did not comply with the requirements and needed to be supplemented by another retrospective opinion, possibly requiring an in-person examination.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L5-S1, compression fracture T12, chronic sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21069921
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 21069921.
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 Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his back disability from 40% to 20%, effective December 1, 2025, as the reduction was improper and void ab initio.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and remanded the issue of service connection for a traumatic brain injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain but has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L5-S1 due to insufficient evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle disability.
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