The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied due to failure to appear for scheduled examinations without good cause.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, which were necessary for proper adjudication of the appealed claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, Sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, Femoral nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, Femoral nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2022
- Citation
- 22070760
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22070760.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot crush injury, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities, also secondary to the newly service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and disabilities manifested by functional impairment due to right and left knee pain with limited flexion as secondary conditions. The claims for increased ratings were remanded.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral lumbar disc disease and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
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