The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for left knee DJD. However, the issue of whether the Veteran's left knee DJD is aggravated by his service-connected right knee DJD or lumbar spine arthritis remains pending.
The deciding factor: The January 2017 VA examiner's opinion regarding aggravation was conflicting and requires clarification to determine if the Veteran's left knee DJD is aggravated by his service-connected right knee DJD or lumbar spine arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), right knee DJD, lumbar spine arthritis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19104702
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, without considering the beneficial effects of medication.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizure disorder, and erectile dysfunction has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee DJD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, psoriasis, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and various other injuries and conditions claimed by the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The case is remanded for further evidentiary development, including the scheduling of an in-person examination or a retrospective estimate from an examiner based on a review of the records.
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