The Veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective June 20, 2014. The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the entire appeal period and denied entitlement to higher ratings or additional benefits. The case is remanded for further action on TDIU and DEA eligibility claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back disorder does not meet criteria for an increased disability rating as it does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the spine, which would warrant a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis (low back disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23066745
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 23066745.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
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