The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to the presence of other non-service-connected disabilities. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on whether his service-connected lumbar spine disorder and associated left leg radiculopathy render him unemployable, separate from any other disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to the presence of other non-service-connected disabilities. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on whether his service-connected lumbar spine disorder and associated left leg radiculopathy render him unemployable, separate from any other disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disk disease, left leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2016
- Citation
- 1623284
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 1623284.
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 Board has granted the restoration of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), effective May 1, 2020. The decision was made due to procedural errors in the previous termination decisions.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back condition, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to a lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his inability to dress, undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, require frequent adjustment of prosthetic appliances, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, or have an incapacity requiring assistance from others.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service. The case will be returned for further action.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.