The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including right knee chondromalacia, left knee chondromalacia, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine. The remand also includes a TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The claims are inextricably intertwined due to their impact on each other's decisions.
- Claimed conditions
- chondromalacia, right knee, chondromalacia, left knee, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), raticulopathy of the right upper extremity, degenerative arthritis, thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2018
- Citation
- 18140031
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 18140031.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left knee and right shoulder disabilities, along with compensation benefits awarded under 38 USC § 1151 for a right bicep detachment during shoulder surgery, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 22, 2011 to December 11, 2016.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a right foot disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, fibrocartilaginous calcaneonavicular with lateral cuneiform cuboid coalition, other unspecified right ankle disorder, and status post right foot fracture.
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