The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's lumbar spine disability during flare-ups and its impact on daily activities and employability.
The deciding factor: The need for a new VA medical opinion arises due to the lack of clarity regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability during flare-ups, particularly in relation to functional ankylosis, and the impact on his ability to perform activities of daily living and occupational functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Incomplete paralysis of right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Incomplete paralysis of left lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 14, 2025
- Citation
- 25009177
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 service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal of proposed rating reductions for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, left lower extremity, due to procedural defects in the Veteran's notice of disagreement. The issue regarding a compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.
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