The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc disorder and associated radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The current examination findings may not be representative of the current severity of the disability, necessitating a new assessment.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc disorder of the lumbar spine, r radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, associated with intervertebral disc disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19183116
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 Veteran's low back disability was not found to warrant a higher rating prior to December 16, 2019. From that date, the disability was also not found to warrant a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration, and requests that VA examiners or correctional facility medical staff provide necessary examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities due to a lack of discussion on certain evidence in the previous decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 20 percent for residuals of a lumbar laminectomy and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as SMC based on aid and attendance, need to be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.