The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoid residuals is being remanded as there may be an additional separate disability evaluation warranted under another diagnostic code.,The Veteran's claims for left knee and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service events or diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for a left ear disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service events or diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hand disabilities is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service events or diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for right-sided flank pain is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service events or diagnoses.
The deciding factor: Additional examinations and opinions are needed to determine the severity of the back disability, assess the nature and extent of any impairment of sphincter control, evaluate the presence and etiology of left and right knee disabilities, determine if there is a current left ear disability with associated functional impairment, ascertain whether there is a current hand disability related to service, and decide if there is a current right-sided flank pain condition related to service.,Additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of the hemorrhoid residuals and determine if an additional separate compensable rating can be assigned under another diagnostic code.,Additional examinations are needed to evaluate the presence and etiology of left and right knee disabilities, determine if there is a current left ear disability with associated functional impairment, ascertain whether there is a current hand disability related to service, and decide if there is a current right-sided flank pain condition related to service.,Additional examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of any diagnosed left or right knee disability, including bilateral patellar spurring. Additional examination is also needed to determine the presence and etiology of the claimed left ear disability. Additional examination is also needed to determine the presence and etiology of a current hand disability related to service. Additional examination is also needed to determine if there is a current right-sided flank pain condition related to service.,Additional examinations are needed to assess the nature and extent of any impairment of sphincter control, evaluate the presence and etiology of left and right knee disabilities, determine if there is a current left ear disability with associated functional impairment, ascertain whether there is a current hand disability related to service, and decide if there is a current right-sided flank pain condition related to service.,Additional examinations are needed to assess the nature and extent of any impairment of sphincter control, evaluate the presence and etiology of left and right knee disabilities, determine if there is a current left ear disability with associated functional impairment, ascertain whether there is a current hand disability related to service, and decide if there is a current right-sided flank pain condition related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ear disability (manifested by pain, to include chronic suppurative otitis media), bilateral hand disability (manifested by pain, to include tenosynovitis), disability manifested by right-sided flank pain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19163043
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19163043.
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 Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.
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