The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated right sciatic radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of increased severity since his last VA examination in March 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has reported worsening symptoms, including pain and weakness radiating into his lower extremities. The examiner will assess the current nature and severity of these disabilities under the rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylosis with multilevel disc bulge, degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and stenosis, right sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2022
- Citation
- 22002219
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 22002219.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in August 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's housebound status determination, and thus remands the case for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination for rating right sciatic radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim of a higher disability rating is now pending and will be addressed after a new medical evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right hip strain, right sciatic radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and left hip strain as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.
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