The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and herniated disk at L4-5 and L5-S1 with intervertebral disc syndrome (IDVS) with impaired ejaculation and urinary hesitancy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with restless leg syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination, necessitating a new evaluation to determine the current severity of his conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, herniated disc at L4-5 and L5-S1, intervertebral disc syndrome (IDVS), impaired ejaculation, urinary hesitancy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20001584
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as well as the claim for a higher rating for his low back disability, were denied. However, the Board granted an effective date of December 30, 2009, but no earlier, for both TDIU and DEA.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity and functional impairment.
- Dismissed
The appeal for entitlement to left hip injury, right hip injury, and right hand injury was dismissed as these issues were not properly appealed. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.
- Denied
The claim for a higher rating than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was denied because the veteran did not attend a scheduled VA examination.
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