The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral femoral and sciatic radiculopathy) make it difficult for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has already been awarded a combined disability rating of 80 percent. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed from the Social Security Administration regarding his claim for disability benefits.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral femoral radiculopathy, bilateral sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- March 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19120620
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,030 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19120620.
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 claim for TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a higher rating for migraine headaches.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD with alcohol use disorder is dismissed.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for bilateral sciatic radiculopathy, individual unemployability prior to April 5, 2017, eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 USC chapter 35 prior to November 30, 2010, and increased rating based on entitlement to special monthly compensation.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral femoral radiculopathy, bilateral sciatica lower leg, and low back condition due to duplicative filings under the Appeals Modernization Act.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral sciatic radiculopathy, finding that there was no pending or unadjudicated claim prior to April 30, 2018.
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