The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for thoracic spine disorder, and evaluations in excess of 20 percent and 60 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as well as a TDIU, due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The November 2023 VA examination did not adequately address the separation of symptoms between the thoracic spine and lumbar spine, necessitating further development.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic spine disorder, sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity, sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2024
- Citation
- 24032792
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 Board granted service connection for multiple spinal conditions and a right foot disorder, effective from the date of the September 2024 rating decision.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, hemorrhoids, and a thoracic spine disorder. Service connection was granted for hypertension, and an initial rating of 30 percent was assigned for irritable bowel syndrome.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the Veteran's requests for extensions of time to file appeals regarding a thoracic spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder, dismissing both attempted appeals.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The claims for a thoracic spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral tinea pedis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and residuals of buttocks surgery were denied.
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