The Veteran's initial increased rating for DDD, lumbar spine is granted from April 17, 2017. However, his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis remains remanded.,Service connection claims for a right foot disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated based on its current symptoms, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to April 17, 2017. From that date onwards, it approximated flexion of 60 degrees or less with consideration of functional impairment.,For his left knee osteoarthritis, the evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine if he meets the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Left Knee Osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19172063
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 19172063.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his awards of ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis based on limitation of extension. The evidence did not show a compensable limitation of extension prior to February 6, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service due to lack of evidence of a chronic condition during service or post-service continuity.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, left knee osteoarthritis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 23, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
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