The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, and radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis is currently rated at 10 percent prior to February 7, 2017, and at 20 percent after that date. The remand will allow for a more accurate assessment of his current disability level.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, and radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis, Radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, Radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22019458
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 22019458.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left and right lower extremities. The claim for a compensable rating prior to October 17, 2019, for migraine headaches was denied, as were the claims for TDIU due solely to the effects of migraine headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and other specified depressive disorder are all granted as service-connected.,PTSD is linked to in-service stressors, while the other conditions have been granted on a direct basis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to determine if they are related to his military service. The case is being remanded for these purposes.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis is granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent effective February 7, 2017.
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