The Veteran's back disability is remanded for further examination and review to determine the appropriate rating, as the previous examinations did not adequately address pain and functional loss.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were inadequate in addressing the Veteran's complaints of pain and functional loss, which are critical factors in evaluating his service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23040329
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 23040329.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes and posttraumatic stress disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 11, 2012.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes is currently rated at 10% and denied an increased rating.,Prior to November 28, 2018, the Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50%, which remains unchanged. From that date onwards, her rating has been increased to 70%.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the appellant's service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes and left hip degenerative joint disease were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.
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