The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine appropriate ratings for his service-connected radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, left lower extremity, and bilateral hallux valgus. The effective date claims are also deferred pending further development.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a decision on the remand issues could significantly impact the earlier effective dates for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, left lower extremity, and bilateral hallux valgus, as these conditions are closely tied to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the earlier effective date claims were deferred pending further development.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Radiculopathy, upper radicular group, right upper extremity, Radiculopathy, upper radicular group, left upper extremity, Radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, Hallux valgus, right foot, Hallux valgus, left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20024135
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 20024135.
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 a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its residuals, including unsteady gait, somnolence, and cognitive dysfunction. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements about in-service head injuries and subsequent seizures.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and therefore, service connection for TBI is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to service-connected TBI with PTSD is granted, effective September 6, 2018.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance is granted due to his cognitive impairment resulting from a motor vehicle accident in 2018, which has rendered him unable to work and needing assistance with daily activities.
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