The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatica due to the need for a medical opinion that discounts the ameliorative effects of medication.
The deciding factor: The severity of the Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatica symptoms needs to be determined while discounting the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2025
- Citation
- 25006198
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatica but granted separate disability ratings for neuritis and neuralgia.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple psychiatric and physical disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disability, left lower extremity sciatica, low back disability, and left arm disability.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for left lower extremity sciatica is dismissed as the benefit was granted in full. The claims for a bilateral foot condition and right lower extremity neurological impairment were denied due to lack of evidence supporting current disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are service-connected due to exposure to fine particulate matter during her deployment.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is service-connected based on onset during active service.,The Veteran's left ankle condition is service-connected as it occurred during reserve service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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