The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded this issue due to further development being necessary.,Left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy was previously rated at 10 percent prior to March 2, 2021, and now remains rated at 20 percent from that date. The issue of increasing the rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder has been found to have a significant impact on his ability to perform daily activities and work, with forward flexion limited to 35 degrees or less.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with scoliosis, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 23, 2023
- Citation
- 23053077
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 23053077.
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 increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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