The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy. The claim of service connection for PTSD is granted. The issues of service connection for left leg radiculopathy and right leg radiculopathy are remanded for further review.
The deciding factor: The Board found new evidence relevant to the claims, including VA treatment records from VAMC Orlando and Gainesville that were not previously considered in January 2019. The Veteran's service stressors have been confirmed by his military records and personal accounts. The examiner will be asked to determine if the Veteran has radiculopathy of either or both lower extremities caused or worsened by his service-connected lumbar strain at L4-5 with herniated nucleus pulposus.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Lower left extremity radiculopathy (left leg radiculopathy), Lower right extremity radiculopathy (right leg radiculopathy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24030120
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 A24030120.
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 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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