The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his total right knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence was submitted after the hearing, and further examination is needed to assess the current functional impairment of the Veteran's right knee joint, including any effects from a recent infection.
- Claimed conditions
- Total Right Knee Replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2016
- Citation
- 1646915
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 1646915.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, finding that the Veteran's total right knee replacement is etiologically related to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's right knee condition and lumbar degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis were evaluated. The Veteran's right knee residuals from total knee replacement are rated at 30 percent, while his lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent. A higher rating for the right knee was denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have resulted in a loss of use of both legs, warranting higher level SMC.
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