The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis and internal derangement, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appellant is to be afforded appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed from VA examiners to assess the current severity of the appellant's service-connected disabilities as well as their impact on daily life and occupational functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right knee osteoarthritis and internal derangement, Bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19129822
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
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, granted service connection for adjustment disorder, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
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