The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings due to deficiencies in VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The case will be returned for further development.
The deciding factor: The Board found that VA examinations were deficient, particularly regarding the relationship between a cyst on the lumbar spine and the service-connected low back disability, as well as the severity of the Veteran's nerve disabilities. Additionally, there are missing EMG/NCS reports from April 2020 which are necessary for proper evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Sciatica, left lower extremity, Radiculopathy of the left internal saphenous nerve, Radiculopathy of the left obturator nerve, Radiculopathy of the left external cutaneous nerve, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Radiculopathy, left ilio-inguinal nerve, Radiculopathy, left femoral nerve, Radiculopathy, right femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23048837
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 23048837.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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