The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a separate disability rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a separate rating for a neurological condition of the left lower extremity associated with his service-connected low back disability. The Board has decided to remand these claims due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted additional medical evidence, which necessitates an initial review by the AOJ before further consideration can be given to the claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative spondylosis of the lower back, Neurological condition of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2017
- Citation
- 1704217
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 1704217.
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 Veteran's degenerative spondylosis of the lower back is rated at 20 percent effective September 10, 2015. The Board also granted a separate disability rating of 60 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with his service-connected degenerative spondylosis of the lower back.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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