The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent from October 29, 2018, to July 30, 2020, for service-connected low back disability; a rating in excess of 20 percent from July 30, 2020, to January 4, 2021, for service-connected low back disability; and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent from January 4, 2021, for service-connected low back disability. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for LLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The claims are remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's range of motion during his VA examinations, as well as the need to obtain relevant treatment records from non-VA providers.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, low back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23051867
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 23051867.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
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