The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his lumbosacral strain, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left and right knee strains, and lateral collateral ligament strain of the ankles are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and potential additional functional loss during flare-ups or repetitive use.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not adequately address the Veteran's complaints of pain, weakness, fatigue, and incoordination during flares or repetitive use, which could affect his disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity, left knee strain, right knee strain, lateral collateral ligament strain, left ankle, lateral collateral ligament strain, right ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23043482
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 23043482.
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 connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to untimely filing of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
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