The Veteran's back disability is rated from August 26, 2016 to June 1, 2018 at a 20 percent rating and from June 1, 2018 at a 40 percent rating. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated from June 1, 2018 to October 3, 2018 at a 40 percent rating and from October 3, 2018 at a 20 percent rating. Service connection for the skin condition is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records show his military occupational specialty as an electrician working outdoors, including in Southwest Asia. His private dermatology notes indicate that actinic keratosis is caused by exposure to sunlight, especially in fair-complexioned persons. The examiner should determine if the Veteran’s skin condition had its onset during or is otherwise related to his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine"}, {"condition_name":"Left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine"}, {"condition_name":"Skin condition manifested by cancerous or precancerous lesions, to include actinic keratosis"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006938
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
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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.