The Board remands the claims for an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower radiculopathy and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine condition to correct duty to assist errors.
The deciding factor: The March 2023 examination reports did not adequately consider all reported symptoms, including pain and flare-ups, which are necessary for evaluating the severity of the Veteran's conditions under the rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower radiculopathy, lumbar spine condition (degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis L5 on S1)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25043668
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 948 · Granted: 52% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25043668.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right upper radiculopathy and left upper radiculopathy, but denied service connection for right lower radiculopathy and left lower radiculopathy as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities necessitate the need for aid and assistance of another to care for herself or protect her from daily environment hazards.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her knee conditions and TDIU have been dismissed as she has withdrawn them. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities from May 10, 2010.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The Board has also remanded the cases for increased rating examinations.
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