The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient examination and lack of consideration of functional loss due to pain, weakness, excess fatigability, incoordination, flare-ups, and medication effects.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not adequately consider the Veteran's reports of increased pain and decreased mobility, nor did they address the impact of his use of opioid pain medication and back injections on his range of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26025775
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26025775.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all his pending Board appeals and is satisfied with his 100 percent combined rating.
- Granted
An earlier effective date of March 9, 1998 for service connection for degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine is granted.,The Veteran's entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for sciatic radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left knee disability have been granted. The specific diagnoses include degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and left knee disability, respectively.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.
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