The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica due to a failure to obtain a VA examination prior to the November 2023 rating decision. The Veteran was diagnosed with left lower extremity sciatica during treatment related to his service-connected left elbow condition, which was determined to be caused by lumbar degenerative disc disease.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to decide whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to in-service incurrences due to a failure to obtain an examination prior to the November 2023 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26017981
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 A26017981.
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's appeals for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine arthritis and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatica, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on a finding of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatica, leading to the dismissal of these claims.
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