The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, and separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an eye disorder, bilateral shoulder strain, elbow arthritis, hand arthritis, and knee arthritis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). Separate ratings are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from November 6, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine (Back Disability), Eye Disorder, Bilateral Shoulder Strain, Bilateral Elbow Arthritis, Bilateral Hand Arthritis, Bilateral Knee Arthritis, Bilateral Ankle Lymphedema
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20036274
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 20036274.
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
An effective date of July 1, 2020 is granted for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).,An effective date of July 1, 2020 is also granted for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to permanent and total service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders due to in-service participation on a boxing team. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records, including private physical therapy records, and schedule an examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back and right knee disabilities due to improper filing deadlines.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date before May 15, 2015, for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to insufficient evidence linking OSA to his bilateral knee condition.
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