The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected IBS. The Board also found that the Veteran’s sciatic nerve radiculopathy does not warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been diagnosed with IBS, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD or other medications used for his disabilities. A new VA examination is needed to determine if there is any causal relationship between his gastrointestinal condition and his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2020
- Citation
- A20015745
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 Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, neck condition, upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral flatfoot, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right ankle pain, as the current evidence is inadequate to make a decision.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted with an effective date of August 14, 2023. The appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were denied.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.