The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The new examination must address whether the right hip disability is related to the lumbar spine disability, distinguish between intrinsic impairment from other causes, and determine the total duration of incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months.
The deciding factor: The remand was due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination in addressing the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The new examination must provide opinions on whether the right hip disability is related to the lumbar spine disability, distinguish between intrinsic impairment from other causes, and determine the total duration of incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23041578
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 23041578.
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 Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right hip disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran will need an adequate VA medical opinion to determine if his hip disabilities are related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
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