The Veteran's reduction of lumbar spine rating from 20% to 10% was improper, and the 20% rating is restored. A 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability as of August 18, 2015, is granted. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy ratings are denied. His TDIU claim is remanded.
The deciding factor: The reduction in the Veteran's lumbar spine rating was not proper due to lack of notice and subsequent improper reduction. The evidence does not show improvement in his lumbar spine disability, warranting a higher rating. The left lower extremity radiculopathy ratings are denied as there is no evidence supporting higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22010002
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22010002.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
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