The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his claim for an increased rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The issues have been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is conflicting evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, and left ankle disability. Additionally, the VA examinations conducted in 2019 did not adequately address these issues or provide sufficient rationale for their conclusions.
- Claimed conditions
- radiculopathy right lower extremity, neurological disability, left upper extremity, neurological disability, right upper extremity, neurological disability of the left lower extremity (including diagnosed radiculopathy and radiculitis), left ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20066127
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 Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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