The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective VA medical opinion and clarifying the loss of range of motion due to repetitive use over time and flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there has not been substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding obtaining a retrospective VA medical opinion and clarifying the loss of range of motion due to repetitive use over time and flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23055402
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 23055402.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of the medical opinion from September 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's posttraumatic tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from August 16, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.
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