The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a VA examination and an adequate medical opinion to properly assess whether the Veteran has the functional equivalent of ankylosis of the spine at any point during the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The August 2024 VA medical opinion was found insufficient as it failed to address specific evidence cited by the Board, including lay statements and previous examination findings.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2024
- Citation
- 24031417
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 Board remands the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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