The Veteran's back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle disability are all being remanded for further review due to the need for additional evidence or clarification.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations provided were less comprehensive than previous ones, leading to a reduction in ratings that may not accurately reflect current functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Disc and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine (back disability), Otitis externa, Degenerative joint disease of the left ankle (left ankle disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23020996
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 23020996.
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 service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and remanded the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal problems, a multiple joint arthritis disability, otitis externa, and an initial compensable rating for a headache disability.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding hearing loss, increased ratings for tinnitus, otitis externa, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran was granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's right eye disability (optic atrophy) is granted service connection, while his otitis externa does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's positional vertigo is secondary to his service-connected otitis externa. The Veteran must provide updated VA treatment records and any private medical opinion from Dr. S.
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