The Board remands the issues for new VA examinations to adequately address the Veteran's lumbar and left lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, as well as related claims for TDIU and special monthly compensation.
The deciding factor: The previous medical examinations were inadequate as they did not substantially discuss the Veteran's assertions of suffering from lumbar ankylosis and severe LLE symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar spine condition, Left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 3, 2025
- Citation
- 25007456
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 10, 2015, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 10, 2015, to June 1, 2020.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for claims related to an increased rating and service connection, as well as lack of jurisdiction over a previously granted claim for sinusitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities to correct duty-to-assist errors.
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