The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's knee and spine disabilities, including a separate rating for right knee meniscal tear, increased ratings for various knee conditions, and an evaluation of his back disability. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence and the need for additional examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and its relationship to service or other disabilities, as well as the extent of functional loss from flare-ups and repeated use. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to assess current severity of his knee and spine conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Meniscal Tear, Right Knee Strain with Tendonitis, Status Post Medial Meniscectomy of Left Knee, Instability, Left Knee, Degenerative Disc Disease, Thoracolumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19164534
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (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 19164534.
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, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right and left knees were granted increased ratings for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The issues of limited flexion and extension remain unresolved.
- Granted
Service connection for IBS is granted. The claims for initial increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee meniscal tear, and PTSD are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee meniscal disability is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent, and his prior claim for an increased rating for limitation of motion of the right knee prior to March 10, 2008 is denied. Since May 23, 2011, he has been granted entitlement to TDIU.
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