The Board remands the issues of an increased rating for lumbar muscle spasm and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the need for a new medical opinion that discounts the beneficial effects of medication.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for a new medical opinion that discounts the ameliorative effects of medication as required by legal precedent.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar muscle spasm
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2025
- Citation
- 25007098
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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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.