The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating and TDIU due to inadequate previous VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, which was previously rated as 10%, 20%, and 40% prior to January 14, 2020, from January 14, 2020 to December 21, 2020, respectively. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU prior to January 14, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Board found the previous VA examination reports inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion retrospectively addressing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder for the entire appeal period (from July 2013 to the present).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22069576
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 22069576.
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 reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis from 40 percent to 20 percent was improper, and his rating is restored to 40 percent effective June 1, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his low back disability, as there was no evidence of limitation of motion or painful motion that would warrant a 10 percent evaluation.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability and restored the 40 percent rating, effective February 1, 2025. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
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