The Veteran's claims to reopen are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claims to reopen are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to incomplete treatment records and a need for a new examination.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for multilevel lumbar disc disease at L5-S1 with disc protrusion causing impression upon the thecal sac, and bulging disc at L4-L5 level is being remanded due to incomplete treatment records and a need for a new examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a medical opinion on whether the neck pain alone may constitute disability, even without an underlying pathology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a medical opinion on whether the hip disability is aggravated by the lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a medical opinion on whether the knee disabilities are directly related to the lumbar spine disability or if they are aggravated by it.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is being remanded due to incomplete treatment records and a need for a new examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome, claimed as lower extremity neuropathy, is being remanded due to an inadequate VA opinion on whether the tarsal tunnel syndrome is related to the lumbar spine disability or if it is aggravated by it.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower extremity numbness, claimed as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, is being remanded due to incomplete treatment records and a need for a medical opinion on whether there is any lower extremity neurological involvement.
The deciding factor: Incomplete treatment records are preventing the VA from making an informed decision.,Incomplete treatment records are preventing the VA from making an informed decision.,The Veteran's condition has worsened and requires additional examination to determine current severity.,Incomplete treatment records are preventing the VA from making an informed decision.,The VA examination is inadequate as it did not address whether the Veteran’s reported neck pain alone may constitute disability, even without an underlying pathology.,The VA examination is inadequate as it did not address whether the hip disability is aggravated by the lumbar spine disability.,The VA examination is inadequate as it did not address whether the knee disabilities are directly related to the lumbar spine disability or if they are aggravated by it.,Incomplete treatment records are preventing the VA from making an informed decision.,The VA opinion is inadequate as it did not address whether the tarsal tunnel syndrome is related to the lumbar spine disability or if it is aggravated by it.,Incomplete treatment records are preventing the VA from making an informed decision.
- Claimed conditions
- left Achilles tendinitis, residual left ankle sprain, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome (claimed as lower extremity neuropathy), lower extremity numbness
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006395
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 service connection claim for a bilateral knee disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including scheduling an additional VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and chronic pain syndrome due to untimely notices of disagreement.
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