The Board has decided to remand all four issues related to the Veteran's back and nerve conditions due to duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, a new examination is required for functional ankylosis of the spine and for the severity of the radiculopathies.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were inadequate in assessing the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his ability to function.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and left side sacroiliitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26007050
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 A26007050.
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
Your initial evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have been granted, but your appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all issues on appeal as the May 2024 rating decision was a purely ministerial implementation of the April 2024 Board decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy conditions, are remanded for further development. The fibromyalgia with headaches claim is also remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected RUE brachial plexus injury and lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve should be rated higher than their current noncompensable (0 percent) ratings.
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