The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, respectively, are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to issue a Statement of Case.
The deciding factor: Incomplete medical records prevent the Board from making a determination on the increased rating claims.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2024
- Citation
- 24007909
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 24007909.
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 Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is determined to be a result of his military service, and he is granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine as secondary to his service-connected spinal fusion is dismissed due to a withdrawal request.
- Denied
The Board denied readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar spine due to a lack of new and relevant evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine prior to December 10, 2014, due to a failure by the VA examiner to provide a retrospective opinion that complies with the Board's remand instructions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.