The Veteran's initial evaluations for right and left leg radiculopathy, as well as his service-connected spondylolisthesis and psychiatric disorder are denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not provide sufficient information on the current severity of the Veteran's conditions or address the effects of flare-ups for increased evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- Right leg radiculopathy, Left leg radiculopathy, Left hip disorder, Psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19132178
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.
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The Board grants the appeal for readjudicating the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and relevant evidence being received.
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The Board granted a 70 percent initial evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and TDIU, but remanded claims for service connection for diabetes, lumbar condition, cervical condition, lung condition, and left and right lower extremity neuropathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety, but dismissed the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right thumb disorder, a compensable rating for a right thumb scar, a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right thumb scar, and a left great toe disorder as moot. The claims for service connection for a left hip disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and PTSD were remanded.
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