The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was granted an initial 10 percent rating prior to April 15, 2010. The issue of whether a higher rating is warranted for the entire appeal period remains pending and will be remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations conducted were inadequate for rating purposes due to lack of range of motion testing in passive motion, weight-bearing, and nonweight-bearing conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right knee patellofemoral syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2016
- Citation
- 1631021
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 1631021.
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 right knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee bursitis, granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on two conditions have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.
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