The Board remands the claims for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar, status post partial laminectomy and discectomy, an initial higher rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy, an initial higher rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy, and an initial compensable rating for lumbar scar due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board remands the claims because the VA examinations did not adequately address the severity of the Veteran's disabilities, including range of motion testing and flare-up effects.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar, status post partial laminectomy and discectomy, left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy, lumbar scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25054694
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 an earlier effective date of October 2, 2015 for the grant of service connection for lumbar sprain and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to good cause shown for the Veteran's failure to file a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the initial denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and others, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Dismissed
The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were dismissed as moot because the Board had already adjudicated them on the merits.
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