The Veteran's neck or cervical spine disability is being remanded for an addendum opinion to determine if it is related to service-connected back disability.,The Veteran's lower extremity neuropathy (claimed as meralgia paresthetica) is being remanded for an addendum opinion to determine if it is caused by obesity, which may be aggravated by the service-connected low back disability.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded.
The deciding factor: An addendum opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran’s neck or cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected back disability and if it is aggravated by that condition.,An addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's obesity, which may be caused by his service-connected low back disability, has aggravated his lower extremity neuropathy (meralgia paresthetica).,The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities cannot be decided without addressing whether the Veteran’s service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to work.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbar strain, neck or cervical spine disability, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20001759
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,874 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20001759.
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 has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's cause of death due to these conditions is also recognized.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbar strain. The claims for migraines and Meniere's disease are remanded.
- Denied
The Board has readjudicated the claim for service connection for chronic lumbar strain due to new evidence submitted after the prior final denial. However, it was determined that the Veteran's current condition is not related to service because his actions leading to the injury were considered willful misconduct.
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