The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment. The issues of TDIU and SMC based on need for aid and attendance are also deferred due to their inextricably intertwined nature with the higher rating claim.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including a request for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment. The decision notes that additional development is necessary, such as obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- sciatic nerve, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20031337
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 20031337.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, sciatic nerve.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to May 25, 2021 was granted. The appropriate effective date for service connection is September 16, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, associated with degenerative joint disease of lumber spine, was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition and left lower extremity sciatic nerve condition, as these issues may be inextricably intertwined with his service connection claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the hands, with ununited fracture ulnar styloid on the right, is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for gout, bilateral great toe MTP joint, is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle insertional Achilles tendinopathy with gout is remanded due to inadequate nexus opinion on the part of the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there was no current diagnosis in the October 2021 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for nummular eczema is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.,The Veteran's claim for prostate condition is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.
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