The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for an addendum VA opinion to address the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability and discuss the October 2019 VA opinion.
The deciding factor: The examiner must specifically address the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including their impact on his ability to work in a heated environment due to his bilateral lower extremity disabilities and limitations on using his right hand and wrist from his right upper extremity disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral lower extremity disabilities, Right upper extremity disabilities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22016009
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 22016009.
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 Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective January 31, 2019.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the VA examination reports.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and right upper extremity disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment in a competitive work setting prior to June 5, 2013. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a granted 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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