The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is required regarding whether the Veteran's left knee condition is causally related to active service.
The deciding factor: The August 2013 VA examiner’s opinion was deemed inadequate as it did not consider evidence of continuity of symptoms and a private medical opinion that suggested a possible link between the Veteran's worsening left knee condition and his pre-existing osteoarthritis, rather than his work-related injury in September 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- Left knee injury, Osteoarthritis, Meniscal tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18160363
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 18160363.
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 Veteran's right knee strain with osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which was granted for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-total knee arthroplasty, is rated at 30% effective December 1, 2018. The TDIU claim was granted from January 1, 2018.
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