The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic and peroneal nerve involvement are being remanded for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examination did not adequately assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity nerve conditions, including sciatic and peroneal nerve involvement, without considering the effects of his medication. An addendum opinion is needed to address whether the symptomatology of the peroneal nerve is separate from that of the sciatic nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity sciatic nerve involvement, right lower extremity sciatic nerve involvement, left lower extremity peroneal nerve involvement, right lower extremity peroneal nerve involvement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26013906
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 A26013906.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease warrants a rating of 60 percent, effective from October 28, 2013. The separate ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy (40 percent), left lower extremity sciatic nerve involvement (20 percent), bladder incontinence (60 percent), and bowel incontinence (30 percent) are also granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is entitled to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective from May 15, 2006.
- Granted
The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica has been rated at 40 percent since August 3, 2011. The effective date remains pending as the claim is still under consideration.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve involvement, as well as his claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left leg. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
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