The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness and tingling of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and back are also denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find evidence of a current disability in the areas claimed by the Veteran. The Board found that the medical findings were more probative than the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.,There was no current diagnosis of numbness and tingling of the right and left upper extremities or back, as noted on VA examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Spine (status post fracture vertebral body, to include arthritis), Numbness and tingling of the right upper extremity, Numbness and tingling of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23008451
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 23008451.
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 has determined that there are issues related to the Veteran's cervical condition and numbness/tingling of his lower and upper extremities. These issues have been remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for TDIU due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is dismissed as his PTSD, which he claimed for TDIU, has been rated at 100% since June 30, 2010. The issue of service connection for GERD is also dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular rating in excess of 40 percent for numbness and tingling of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity, finding that the symptoms were fully contemplated by the applicable rating criteria.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia, as well as his numbness and tingling in the extremities and low back disability, are being remanded for further examination and analysis.
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