The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent, prior to October 26, 2022, and 40 percent thereafter, for a low back condition, and for TDIU. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations prior to October 26, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examinations were inadequate and needed retrospective opinions on the Veteran's lumbar spine during earlier periods of appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- low back condition, spinal fusion with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), low back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23020144
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 23020144.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including the one for an increased rating for low back strain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for athletes' foot, low back strain, and plantar fasciitis due to a lack of a VA examination prior to the August 2020 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back condition, finding that it is related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition and a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.
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