The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for his intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a retrospective addendum opinion to assess the severity of his condition at the time of previous examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not sufficient compliance with the Board's remand directives and thus requires an addendum opinion to retrospectively determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes during the periods when the July 2011 and March 2018 VA examinations were conducted.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2021
- Citation
- 21074999
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 21074999.
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
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 retrospective assessments of the Veteran's disability during the periods of July 2011 and March 2018 VA examinations, as well as failure to consider staged ratings.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of current severity.
- 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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