The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to a service-connected back disability, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine prior to March 4, 2017, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, an effective date earlier than March 4, 2017, for the grant of service connection and separate rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 22, 2016.
The deciding factor: The claims are inextricably intertwined with each other and require further development before they can be decided.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20024088
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 20024088.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain a gainful occupation for the period from August 27, 2009, to February 27, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, while denying service connection for a bilateral elbow condition and a bladder condition. The Board also granted ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the right knee from March 16, 2021, and separate 20 percent ratings for meniscus conditions of both knees.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spondylosis and discogenic disease as due to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, but denied service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities.
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