The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Veteran's current diagnoses include arthritic conditions of the knees and ankles, but there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been received that establishes current diagnoses of bilateral knee and ankle disorders, which may be related to service due to their onset during or within one year after separation from active duty. However, a nexus opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are causally linked to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"left knee disorder","diagnosed_in_service":false,"presumptive_basis":null,"exposure_basis":null}, {"condition_name":"right knee disorder (DJD)","diagnosed_in_service":false,"presumptive_basis":null,"exposure_basis":null}, {"condition_name":"left ankle disorder","diagnosed_in_service":false,"presumptive_basis":null,"exposure_basis":null}, {"condition_name":"right ankle disorder (sprain residuals)","diagnosed_in_service":false,"presumptive_basis":null,"exposure_basis":null}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19143261
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
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