The claims for service connection for migraines, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are remanded due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: Remand is required as there was no explicit statement about whether the Veteran's migraines or bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain, and the examiner did not address the theory of aggravation for any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Migraines, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatica), Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatica)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21062877
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 service connection for PTSD, COPD, a gastrointestinal disability, and migraines due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and her military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 5, 2018, for the award of service connection for PTSD and denied earlier effective dates for erectile dysfunction, left ear hearing loss, migraines, and other conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, migraines, and tinnitus secondary to PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance, while remanding the issue of service connection for a seizures disorder.
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