The Board remands the issues of increased disability ratings for the back and lower extremity neurological disabilities due to the need for additional development, including a new VA peripheral nerves examination.

The deciding factor: Remand is necessary due to inextricably intertwined issues with TDIU and SMC, and to obtain a more accurate assessment of the current severity of the service-connected conditions.

Claimed conditions

Low back strain, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis status post lumbar decompression and fusion (back disability), Sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Femoral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

March 20, 2025

Citation

25003802

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine