The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to address the nature and severity of the service-connected lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The current evidence is insufficient to determine the extent of impairment associated with the Veteran's lumbar spine disabilities due to deficiencies in the medical examinations conducted thus far.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, and strain residuals, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2025
- Citation
- 25008848
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, neck condition, upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral flatfoot, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right ankle pain, as the current evidence is inadequate to make a decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and multiple wrist and finger pain conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased rating from 20 percent to 40 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, finding that the evidence supports a rating of 40 percent based on moderate severe incomplete paralysis.
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