The Veteran seeks service connection for sciatica and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected flat foot. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to inadequate previous opinions.
The deciding factor: Previous VA examinations were inadequate in addressing all theories of entitlement, including direct service connection and secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatica (claimed as a right thigh/hip disability), intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2018
- Citation
- 1829164
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 1829164.
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 Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 28, 2010, to August 26, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied an increased rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of January 3, 2018. His Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility is also granted from the same date.
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