The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity radiculitis from October 19, 2011 onwards is being remanded due to the need for further examination. His initial claim for a higher rating prior to January 6, 2009 for left lower extremity radiculitis has been granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's condition requires a thorough and contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity radiculitis from October 19, 2011 onwards.
- Claimed conditions
- Intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, Left lower extremity radiculitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19159663
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,017 · Granted: 36% (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 19159663.
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 specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to a lack of evidence showing that any service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of lower extremities or other qualifying conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation were denied. The rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis was not granted above 20% prior to November 9, 2017, and above 40% thereafter. Ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also not granted above the assigned levels.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and the issue of increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease is remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left knee strain. The right shoulder disorder claim is denied.
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