The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing. The issues of service connection and increased rating are pending.
The deciding factor: The veteran failed to appear at his scheduled video conference hearing, but requested postponement due to job commitments. A new hearing date will be set based on the veteran's request.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee and ankle disability, joint pain and stiffness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2007
- Citation
- 0738239
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 0738239.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for joint pain and stiffness due to an undiagnosed illness, including whether separate ratings are warranted for bilateral hands and wrists, is remanded due to a duty to assist error. A retrospective VA musculoskeletal assessment is needed.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating increases as well as a claim for TDIU due to the Veteran's death.
- Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
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