The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct a new medical examination. The purpose of the remand is to clarify whether any additional low back disability resulted from an injection administered by VA for right-sided low back pain.
The deciding factor: Clarification is needed regarding the July 2006 VA medical examination's statement that the Veteran developed left-sided symptoms following a VA-administered injection for his right-sided low back pain. The examiner must distinguish between any left low back and left leg symptoms attributable to a nerves puncture injury and those attributable to other causes.
- Claimed conditions
- left sciatic radiculopathy, left low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2012
- Citation
- 1236674
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1236674.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in August 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's housebound status determination, and thus remands the case for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 14, 2005 for SMC based on housebound status is granted. The decision finds that the Veteran has a single disability rated as total (left knee disability via extraschedular TDIU from February 25, 2005) and separate service-connected disabilities ratable at a combined 60 percent disabling (acquired psychiatric disorder at 70 percent from July 14, 2005), as required by the law.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right sciatic radiculopathy have been granted at a 20 percent level, but no higher.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.