The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his left knee condition and service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis as secondary to the service-connected disability of left knee internal derangement with arthritis are both remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee condition, and an addendum opinion is required to address whether his lumbar spine spondylosis is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.
The deciding factor: The claims are remanded because the VA examiner did not sufficiently address both the causation and aggravation prongs of secondary service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis, and there is insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his left knee condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee internal derangement with arthritis, lumbar spine spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18160725
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 18160725.
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.
- Granted
Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from February 1, 2020.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar spine spondylosis was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, left foot disability (hallux valgus), GERD, headache disability, and hypertension were all denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of lumbar spine spondylosis was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, right hip degenerative arthritis, and right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected depression.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, and also granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the degenerative joint disease from April 18, 2024.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.