The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent for postoperative reconstructive surgery patellofemoral disease with scars. The case has been remanded due to examination deficiencies and the need for additional development, including a new VA examination for the right knee and scars, and medical opinions on functional loss and impact of hydrocodone treatment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's disability rating is based on service connection theory as 'direct' because it does not involve any presumption or secondary condition. The case has been remanded due to inadequate examinations that did not consider the Veteran’s lay statements about his symptoms, flare-ups, and functional loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative residuals of right knee surgery, Degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19168283
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19168283.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to October 11, 2022 and since December 1, 2022. The Veteran's claim is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and a lumbosacral strain, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks higher initial ratings for his back disability, but the VA examinations from the period under review are inadequate. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an opinion as to the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's back disability during the period under review.
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