The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to the reduction of his disability rating for recurrent low back strain and claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions. The Board has determined that these issues are inextricably intertwined and requires further action, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal includes both a claim regarding the reduction of his disability rating and multiple claims for increased ratings for different service-connected conditions. These issues are interrelated and require separate adjudication to ensure proper consideration of all relevant factors.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent low back strain, left lumbar radiculopathy associated with recurrent low back strain, right lumbar radiculopathy associated with recurrent low_back_strain, lumbar radiculopathy, right femoral nerve, associated with recurrent low back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19108366
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 880 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19108366.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for recurrent low back strain and service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no persuasive evidence to support these claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and its relationship to his current diagnoses. The issues of increased rating for recurrent low back strain and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy are being returned to VA for further evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, including his temporary total evaluations, as well as any possible left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent low back strain and right lower extremity neuropathy, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 26, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
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