The Board has determined that the Veteran's spine disability and radiculopathy claims, as well as his TDIU claim, are inextricably intertwined. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for the Veteran's spine disability and another for his radiculopathy. These examinations should assess the current severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the September 2018 VA examination was inadequate due to its failure to provide opinions regarding additional functional loss on repetitive use over time or during flare-ups, which are necessary for determining a higher rating based on the Veteran's spine disability. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain new examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- herniated lumbar disc with degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with intravertebral disc disease (IVDS), raticulopathy in the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20053885
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 20053885.
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
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- Granted
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