The Veteran's left lower leg lymphedema has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it more nearly approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule an examination.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows persistent edema of the left lower extremity incompletely relieved by elevation, which more nearly approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating under DC 7121.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower leg lymphedema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19123915
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (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 19123915.
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 claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected left lower leg lymphedema alone did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left lower leg lymphedema and depression affect his ability to work. The case will be referred for a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left lower leg lymphedema has been rated at 20 percent since January 30, 2006. The Board remanded the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities because it did not provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases regarding whether referral was warranted for extraschedular TDIU consideration.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower leg lymphedema and denied entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected condition is rated at 20 percent, effective January 30, 2006.
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