The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his thoracic strain with degenerative changes and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that an additional VA examination was needed as per the October 2018 remand directives to determine the current severity of the Veteran's thoracic strain disability and provide evaluations required to fully determine the severity of his lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lower left extremity radiculopathy, lower right extremity radiculopathy, thoracic strain with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 28, 2022
- Citation
- 22037129
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 22037129.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for lower left extremity radiculopathy due to a concurrent election. The Board has also granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, left ankle condition, and left shoulder condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The lumbar spine disability issue is also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause for extension was presented.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and a 20 percent rating for lower left extremity radiculopathy as the ratings were restored in an April 30, 2025 Higher-Level Review (HLR) rating decision.
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