The Veteran's low back disability was rated based on the severity of his symptoms and range of motion. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met at various points in time, leading to a remand for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases or Injuries of the Spine due to his limited range of motion and pain during flare-ups. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis, which would have warranted a 50% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, left leg radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right leg radiculopathy (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20048449
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 20048449.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right leg radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) prior to August 18, 2022 were denied as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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