The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and right sciatic radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.
The deciding factor: Updated medical evidence is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disc disease, right sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19179787
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and other benefits, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional compensation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis and a 20 percent rating for right sciatic radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for left sciatic radiculopathy, chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), service connection for chronic sinusitis, pain of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service.
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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.