The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner to retrospectively assess the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from January 29, 2010, through October 21, 2019.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evaluation of the Veteran’s back disability for this retrospective period will include neurological findings which could impact the assessment of his increased rating claim for sciatic nerve impairment of the right lower extremity. Therefore, the Board deferred adjudicating this claim pending completion of the requested development.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar stenosis with degenerative arthritis, sciatic nerve impairment of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080354
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 Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.