The Veteran's cervical strain and djd, lumbar strain and thoracolumbar djd, right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and right hip bursitis are all related to his service-connected left ankle problem. The Board has determined that additional VA opinions are needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The conflicting medical evidence indicates a need for further examination to clarify the nature of the Veteran's current disabilities and their relation to his service-connected left ankle condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical strain and cervical degenerative joint disease (djd), Lumbar strain and thoracolumbar djd, Right lower extremity sciatica, Left lower extremity sciatica, Right hip bursitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2022
- Citation
- 22045683
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 22045683.
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 earlier effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted from September 16, 2011.,The Veteran's SMC based on housebound criteria has been granted effective from March 13, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right hip bursitis and tinnitus was denied. The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as 10% disabling under DC 5252, with noncompensable ratings under DCs 5251 and 5253. Service connection for tinnitus has been established.
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not fully addressed due to inadequate examinations, and thus these issues must be remanded for further development.
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