The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities caused him to become obese and if his right knee disability would not have occurred but for obesity.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for further clarification of the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities and his obesity, which may be a factor in determining whether his right knee disability is secondary to those conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee disability (chondromalacia), left knee disabilities
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19156943
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 19156943.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability based on limitation of flexion and granted a separate 10 percent rating, but no higher, for instability of the right knee. The Board also granted a separate 20 percent rating for chondromalacia patella and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee with chronic pain and recurrent episodes of locking and effusion or swelling.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disabilities were granted service connection and an increased rating. Other conditions, including IBS, bilateral hip disabilities, left knee disabilities, and hypothyroidism, received increased ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of increased initial ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities since January 14, 2019. The AOJ is instructed to correct an error in assigning a 30 percent rating after termination of the temporary total rating without medical evidence, and to schedule a VA examination for the left knee.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and left knee disabilities, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment from September 27, 2016, to October 11, 2022. The Board has granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.
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