The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for right knee, right leg, lumbar spine, and right eye disabilities due to new evidence indicating their severity may have changed since the last VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's representative noted that his service-connected conditions had worsened since the last VA examinations, necessitating further evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee moderate degenerative joint disease, right leg distal tibia and fibula fracture with traumatic arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease with spinal stenosis, right eye diabetic retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18107342
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18107342.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eye conditions, including left eye proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, right eye diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral cataracts, are being remanded for further clarification of the pathologic process responsible for his visual impairment. The VA will also need to determine if the Veteran has experienced incapacitating episodes related to these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease. Service connection is also granted for chronic kidney disease, right eye diabetic retinopathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected diabetes. Service connection is granted for congestive heart failure as secondary to coronary artery disease. The case is remanded for additional opinions on toxic optic neuropathy with altitudinal visual field defect and a heart disorder other than coronary artery disease.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for right eye disability (diabetic retinopathy and cataracts) and cervical spine disability. The decision on right eye disability is based on the evidence not showing a direct link to service, while the cervical spine issue was found in favor of the Veteran due to reasonable doubt.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left eye diabetic retinopathy is granted. The Board finds that an additional remand is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral eye disability, including right eye diabetic retinopathy and other eye disabilities.
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