The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' opinions were found to be inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay reports regarding the onset of his symptoms, nor did they address post-service events or injuries that could have caused his current diagnoses. The claims are remanded for new, adequate medical nexus opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, 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 ankle strain, Cervical spine condition, Left hand numbness, Bilateral arm muscle spasms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26013150
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 A26013150.
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 has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine condition and left shoulder condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as VA failed to provide the Veteran with VA examinations and medical opinions to assess the nature and etiology of his conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was granted as new and relevant evidence has been received. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide a VA examination, and determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that it most nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed as a matter of law due to a full grant of benefits. The appeals for left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded.
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