The Veteran's service-connected left knee, bilateral feet, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.
The deciding factor: The examinations of record were not recent enough or comprehensive to assess the current level of impairment accurately.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the left knee with patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia, bilateral pes planus with plantar fascitis and bilateral heel spurs, bursitis of the right shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18160847
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 18160847.
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 Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right shoulder bursitis, left shoulder bursitis, and right ring finger fracture.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder bursitis is being remanded due to the need for a new examination that adheres to Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU, which satisfies his appeal for a higher evaluation of PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of record, and the Veteran's representative requested a VA examination. The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities must be remanded for the Veteran to be scheduled for a VA examination.
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