The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied. The issue of right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the assignment of a higher rating than 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability, and the claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded to determine if it exists.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2022
- Citation
- 22070082
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 22070082.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date as no new and relevant evidence was received to reopen or readjudicate the claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 8, 2011, finding that there was no evidence showing he became unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities within one year prior to his claim.
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