The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected orthopedic conditions are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of these disabilities.
The deciding factor: Additional medical evidence is needed to properly assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disorders, as he has not undergone an examination since December 2005.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, Bilateral gout of the ankles and feet, Degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, Degenerative joint disease of the right knee, Degenerative joint disease of the left knee, status post partial meniscectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0907132
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 remands the claims for further development to ensure that the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is accurately assessed without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 1, 2016, to June 25, 2017, and beginning June 26, 2017, due to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, effective December 8, 2025.
- Granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative spondylosis at L5-S1, left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and depressive disorder.
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