The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, with bilateral radiculopathy, muscle spasms, and intermittent paresthesias is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The veteran has complained of worsening symptoms related to his service-connected disability and needs a new VA examination to determine the extent of any related neurological impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbosacral strain, bilateral radiculopathy, muscle spasms, intermittent paresthesias
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2001
- Citation
- 0120598
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0120598.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's stress fracture, mid-distal femur, right leg with limited flexion and restored the 30 percent rating for the Veteran's stress fracture, mid-distal femur, right leg with limitation of abduction and rotation. The other claims were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for fatigue and muscle spasms, to include CFS, as a VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link between these symptoms and the Veteran's active duty.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain and service connection for right leg condition was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the case for further development to obtain a retrospective medical opinion addressing functional loss during flareups and with repeated use over time prior to June 2021, as the previous opinions did not provide sufficient information regarding the Veteran's functional loss.
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