The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and new treatment records are needed.
The deciding factor: Incomplete VA examination results in a need for further evaluation of the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with spondylolisthesis L5-S1, status post spinal fusion, right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy femoral nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy external cutaneous nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy external cutaneous nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18159593
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 18159593.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 31, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain (back disorder) was denied as a matter of law.,Claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied with effective dates set at July 12, 2021.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because the evidence did not show he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities, nor was he permanently bedridden. The Board found that while the Veteran had difficulty with medication management and some activities, he could still bathe/shower, eat, dress, etc., without assistance.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder pain and degenerative disc disease. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The ratings for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and right upper extremity radiculopathy lower radicular group are restored or maintained.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, and the Board dismissed the appeal in its entirety.
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