The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is granted effective September 13, 2018. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine DDD and disc disease with compression fracture at L4 is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities significantly limit his ability to sit for prolonged periods and interfere with his activities of daily living, including dressing himself fully and reaching for or grabbing things.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DDD), disc disease with compression fracture at L4, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19144696
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 service connection of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies and an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection, and also concluded that the current ratings were appropriate.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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