The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of SSA records.
The deciding factor: The current severity of the service-connected disability needs to be evaluated by a VA examiner, and additional evidence from Social Security Administration (SSA) must be obtained.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2013
- Citation
- 1301765
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 1301765.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to December 24, 2015, and after April 2, 2017, was withdrawn by the Veteran. An initial 40 percent rating for incomplete paralysis of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted a 20% rating, effective February 7, 2012. The Veteran's surgical scar of the lumbosacral spine is granted a 10% rating on and after September 19, 2019. The reduction in the rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease from 20% to 10% is restored.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus remanded for further development.
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