The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right knee strain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion with pain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 23, 2014 for the assignment of a 20 percent evaluation for right knee strain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 23, 2014 for the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for right knee limitation of flexion with pain is remanded.
The deciding factor: VA examinations are required to include joint testing for pain on both active and passive range of motion, as well as with weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing.,VA examinations are required to test the Veteran’s current severity of his right knee disability, including active motion, passive motion, and pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing. The examiner must also attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of functional loss during flare-ups.,VA examinations are required to identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to right knee disability alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s right knee on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement or an opinion regarding flare-ups, symptoms, or functional impairment without speculation, the examiner must state whether the need to speculate is due to a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (no one could respond given medical science and the known facts), a deficiency in the record (additional facts are required), or the examiner (does not have the knowledge or training).,VA examinations are required to ensure that the Veteran’s right knee disability is evaluated based on its current severity, including any symptoms and functional impairments due to the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle strain, Right knee strain, Right knee limitation of flexion with pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2018
- Citation
- 18132840
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 18132840.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain, right wrist sprain, right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The disabilities are all deemed to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition due to inadequate VA opinions and incomplete record development regarding his National Guard service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee strains with shin splints due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities, including during flare-ups.
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