The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, and herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and scheduling an examination.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's outstanding private treatment records and to schedule a new examination as the previous one was found inadequate.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- 25005604
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 issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome based on limited cervical range of motion and a 40 percent rating for IVDS based on limited thoracolumbar range of motion, while dismissing the appeal for service connection for a right knee disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and lumbosacral strain, based on the Veteran's consistent account of having low back problems since service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for several conditions.
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