The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that further examination is necessary to determine the current severity and functional impairment of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, which may affect the appropriate rating assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- bowel dysfunction, chronic lower back pain with spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, bladder dysfunction, bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis of the right knee strain, residuals of a chronic left knee strain, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in the right lower extremity, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in the left lower extremity, hallux valgus of the right foot, hallux valgus of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23044932
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 23044932.
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 Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on hospitalization or convalescence due to his service-connected cervical spine disability is remanded as the record does not include post-surgical follow-up treatment records from the University of Virginia Hospital.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating issues due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being obtained prior to adjudication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the claimed back disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for a TDIU prior to October 28, 2014 and temporary total evaluation for thoracolumbar spine disability were denied. Claims for evaluations in excess of the current ratings for bowel disability (from February 4, 2015 to May 18, 2024) and bladder dysfunction (from February 4, 2015 to April 18, 2024) are also denied.
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