The Veteran's obesity is not service-connected as it is not a compensable disability.,Prior to October 5, 2022, the Veteran's left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies were rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that they are currently less than moderate in severity.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies have not been found to be more than moderate in severity prior to October 5, 2022.,Prior to August 17, 2022, the Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies were rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that they are currently less than moderate in severity.,The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability has not been found to be more than 20 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: Obesity is not a compensable disability for VA purposes and therefore cannot be service-connected.
- Claimed conditions
- Obesity, Left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, Left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 1, 2024
- Citation
- A24071042
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 857 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24071042.
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 has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is secondary to her service-connected PTSD and obesity. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's participation in a TERA during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and obesity. The AOJ will need to provide a VA examination to clarify these issues.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 50 percent effective February 13, 2021. His left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 80 percent from April 21, 2013 to February 12, 2021. The Veteran's TDIU claim has an earlier effective date of April 21, 2013.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no competent evidence to suggest that PTSD contributed to his passing.
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