The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of DDD, lumbar spine and radiculopathy left lower extremity were denied. The case was remanded for further action on the remaining issues.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran’s conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Lumbar Spine, Radiculopathy Left Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19154555
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 19154555.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and an earlier effective date of May 14, 2018, for radiculopathy right lower extremity. Other claims were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable rating for right knee strain with limitation of flexion and granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability. The claims for increased ratings for GERD and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including OSA, lumbar degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2017.
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