The Board remands the claims for higher ratings for left hip degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy sciatica, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy sciatica, and chronic lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary due to inadequate VA examinations prior to the October 2020 rating decision, as required by the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).
- Claimed conditions
- left hip degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy sciatica, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy sciatica, chronic lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25028781
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 705 · Granted: 38% (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 A25028781.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including chronic right foot metatarsalgia at digit 3,4,5, left shoulder bicep tendonitis, right hip degenerative joint disease, hypertension, right shoulder bicep tendonitis, headaches, left hip degenerative joint disease, and atrial fibrillation with residual non ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating codes.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding inadequate opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right hip degenerative joint disease, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve problem. The issues related to right knee degenerative arthritis are also remanded as they are intertwined with the IVDS claim.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.