The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left and right knee replacements due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to his active service, specifically his cargo-lifting work as a loadmaster.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the in-service numbness and pain in the knees reported by the Veteran is related to his current bilateral knee replacement surgeries.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee replacement, right knee replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18107448
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 18107448.
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 Veteran was eligible for beneficiary travel benefits to attend a VA medical appointment on March 16, 2021 due to his service-connected conditions. The Board found that the nearest available clinic provided the required care and that the Veteran's statements were credible and consistent with the evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and accrued benefits due to procedural issues, as the appeals were not within the modernized review system.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee replacement and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions are related to his military service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because it was not timely filed, and no good cause for delay was provided.
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