The Board has remanded the claims for right hip disorder, left hip disorder, bilateral leg swelling disorder, and SMC due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's attorney waived review of new evidence in the AOJ. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine the cause and nature of the Veteran’s current right and left hip disorders and bilateral leg swelling disorders.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical opinions provided by the VA examiner were inadequate, as they did not address whether the Veteran's current hip and leg swelling disorders were caused or aggravated by his service-connected IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board also noted that the claim for SMC is inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hip Disorder, Left Hip Disorder, Bilateral Leg Swelling Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18134109
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 18134109.
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 Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left hip disorders due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining an adequate nexus opinion prior to the June 2021 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly regarding his shoulder disorders and nasal surgeries. The claims for service connection have been remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for a left hip disorder and hearing loss, but has remanded the claim for COPD due to potential errors in the decision-making process.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, joint pain disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds that the VA examinations are insufficient in addressing the Veteran's reported symptoms of continuous pain since service.
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