The Veteran's low back condition has been granted a 40% rating.,Her left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40%, and her right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10%. The Veteran also has service-connected total knee replacements for both knees, which are secondary to her back disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's low back condition more nearly approximates limitation of flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less when accounting for additional pain during flare-ups and the ameliorative effects of medication.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity radiculopathy is characterized by moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, warranting a 40% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine"}, {"condition_name":"Total left knee replacement","secondary_to_service_connection_condition":true,"service_connection_theory":"Secondary"}, {"condition_name":"Total right knee replacement","secondary_to_service_connection_condition":true,"service_connection_theory":"Secondary"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19149753
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.