Citation Nr: 21026882 Decision Date: 05/04/21 Archive Date: 05/04/21 DOCKET NO. 16-32 400 DATE: May 4, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lower left extremity sciatic radiculopathy is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from April 1981 to April 1985. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2014 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). When this case was last before the Board in November 2018, it was remanded for additional development. Specifically, the RO was instructed to provide the Veteran with a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) which addressed the evidence added to the claims file after the statement of the case (SOC). The RO issued an appropriate SSOC in June 2020. As such, the Board finds that the AOJ substantially complied with the directives in the November 2018 remand. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). Left Lower Extremity The Board notes that the last VA examinations in connection with the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy were conducted 2 years ago in January 2019. Additionally, the Board notes that the Veteran's VA treatment records indicate that she was involved in a motor vehicle accident in December 2020 which "resulted in exacerbation of her complaints of neck and back, hips, and legs." This record shows evidence of a potential worsening of her service-connected left lower extremity condition. Additionally, the Board notes when the VA provides an examination or obtains an opinion, it must be adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303 (2007). As noted above, the Veteran was recently afforded a January 2019 VA Back conditions examination and a January 2019 VA Peripheral Nerve Conditions examination which addressed her lower extremity radiculopathy disability. However, despite the examinations taking place on the same day, with the same physician, the results regarding the Veteran's lower left extremity sciatic radiculopathy were contradictory between the examinations. Specifically, the Board notes on the peripheral nerves examination the examiner documented severe symptomatology of the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy, while on the back-condition examination the examiner documented mild to moderate symptomatology. Given the potential worsening of the Veteran's claimed condition, and the inadequacy of the last VA examination, a remand is warranted for a contemporaneous examination. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity and symptomology of her lower left extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The claims folder must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner must provide a complete rationale for all proffered opinions. If an examiner is unable to provide any required opinion, he or she should explain why. If an examiner cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, he or she shall provide a complete answer as to why this is so. If the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information, the examiner should identify the additional information that is needed. T. REYNOLDS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Gresham The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.