The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's IVDS in the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination findings.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has also remanded this issue.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not find that the Veteran’s PTSD symptoms rose to the level required for a higher rating.,The August 2017 VAX was inadequate as it did not include an examination during a flare-up, and thus could not provide an estimate of additional loss of range of motion due to pain.,The severity of the Veteran's right lower radiculopathy at the time of the August 2017 VA examination is unclear. The Board has remanded for clarification.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) - Lumbar Spine, Radiculopathy of the Right Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20034938
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 20034938.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.