The Board has granted separate ratings of 10 percent for removal of semilunar cartilage in both knees. The issues of initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee arthritis, compensable rating for a left big toe disability, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability, and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability are being remanded. The issue of entitlement to higher ratings for tinnitus and right foot disability is also being remanded. A TDIU claim is being inferred.
The deciding factor: The claims have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee arthritis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and right foot disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Arthritis, Left Knee Arthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the Lumbar Spine, Tinnitus, Hallux Rigidus with Arthritis of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint of the Right Foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18136770
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 18136770.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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