The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to assertions of worsening symptoms, including flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new examinations are necessary in order to fully and adequately evaluate the severity of the Veteran's conditions and comply with the holding in Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of L5, S1 of the lumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the right lower associated with Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of L5, S1 of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20003225
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 granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.