The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, neck arthritis, and lumbar disc disease. The Board has determined that additional development is needed as the current VA examination did not adequately address the relationship between his service-connected left ankle disability and these conditions.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examination did not provide a clear opinion on whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee, neck, or lumbar spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee arthritis, neck arthritis, lumbar disc disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1800555
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 1800555.
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 granted service connection for left knee strain, lumbar disc disease, and cervical spine disability based on evidence supporting an in-service onset of symptoms that have continued to the present.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain but granted a compensable rating for GERD, and denied service connection for left knee strain and bilateral knee arthritis.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 24, 2014, as the evidence demonstrated that he was able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for lumbar disc disease due to inadequate medical examinations.
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