The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations for her service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and left lower extremity radiculopathy with intermittent foot drop. The Veteran is required to provide information about any relevant healthcare providers, and VA must obtain all outstanding records. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional evidence was necessary due to procedural errors in previous examinations and the need for updated medical evaluations to accurately assess the Veteran's current condition.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left lower extremity radiculopathy with intermittent foot drop
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186486
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome based on limited cervical range of motion and a 40 percent rating for IVDS based on limited thoracolumbar range of motion, while dismissing the appeal for service connection for a right knee disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and lumbosacral strain, based on the Veteran's consistent account of having low back problems since service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for several conditions.
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