The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.
The deciding factor: The December 2022 VA examination did not adequately address the ameliorative effects of the Veteran's medications on his lumbar spine symptoms, and thus was deemed inadequate for evaluating the severity of the disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease, thoracic lumbar spine (lumbar spine)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045045
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.
- Denied
The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, and spinal fusion of the lumbar spine was denied as the Veteran failed to attend a necessary VA examination without good cause shown.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this issue.
- 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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