The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar discogenic disease, degenerative disc disease (DDD), radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and radiculopathy, left lower extremity. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies.
The deciding factor: The last VA examination was conducted approximately 6 years ago, and the Veteran has testified that his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies have worsened. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity of these disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar discogenic disease, degenerative disc disease (DDD), rheiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, rheiculopathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19182241
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) was dismissed by the Veteran in written correspondence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hepatitis C and related conditions as they are inextricably intertwined.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and granted an effective date of November 5, 2007, but no earlier, for TDIU.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and ankle disabilities based on their relationship to the Veteran's active service.
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