The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
The deciding factor: There are outstanding, relevant documents that were identified prior to the AOJ decisions on appeal, including VA treatment records from a civilian doctor and clinical records in VistA Imaging.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, left knee strain with limitation of flexion, left knee strain with limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25049938
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as August 21, 2023, is the earliest possible effective date based on VA receiving the claim.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and voiding dysfunction as residuals of a stroke, and granted initial ratings for the back disability, left shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for earlier effective dates for hypertension and stroke were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the 60% rating for degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine, status post fusion, with stenosis and spondylolisthesis. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and denied increased ratings, but granted service connection with an effective date of January 16, 2018, and a TDIU beginning April 18, 2017.
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