The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy, and residuals of a right ankle fracture are being remanded due to the need for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not differentiate between symptoms attributable to the service-connected conditions in the Veteran's right lower extremity and those attributable to his residuals of a right ankle fracture.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy, residuals of a right ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21014280
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 21014280.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as it is a lesser benefit than SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to January 27, 2006, for service connection of bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy were denied as there was no claim filed before that date.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to January 30, 2004, for service connection of bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy were denied as there was no claim filed before that date.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to September 29, 2021, for service connection of bilateral femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied as the conditions were not diagnosed or claimed until then.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 11, 2023, for total disability due to individual unemployability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not clearly establish unemployability due to service-connected disabilities before this date and there was no formal claim for TDIU.
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