The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left lower extremity sciatic nerve and chronic lumbar strain for further development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing a reason or requesting rescheduling, and the Board finds that one more opportunity should be provided to ensure all relevant evidence is considered.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity sciatic nerve, chronic lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24031970
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 Board granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings and service connection based on an intent to file a claim submitted by the Veteran prior to his formal claim.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain, restored the 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome effective February 11, 2023, and granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability of the right knee. The decision also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from June 8, 2021, and TDIU based on PTSD alone from August 21, 2021, along with SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status from the same date.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left and right lower extremity sciatic nerves, as secondary to lumbosacral strain.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded a claim for service connection for sleep apnea.
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