The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are being remanded for further evaluation due to increased symptoms since his last VA examination in September 2014.
The deciding factor: Increased back pain and decreased range of motion along with worsened lower extremity symptoms necessitate a new VA examination to determine current severity of service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19127415
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound status, but dismissed the claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including bilateral wrist, ankle, foot, shoulder, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, lumbosacral spine, and carpal tunnel syndrome, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity paresthesia, left upper extremity paresthesia, acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's military service.
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