The Veteran's spine and knee disabilities have not been evaluated since December 2015. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated VA examinations for the spine and left knee, as well as any additional private treatment records.
The deciding factor: The last evaluations were conducted over five years ago, and the Veteran reports worsening symptoms of both conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis of the thoracolumbar spine, retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19180919
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 an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the left and right knee disabilities but granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful motion with extension associated with both knees.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for ulcer disease and higher ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of both knees, irritable bowel syndrome with cholecystectomy, hiatal hernia, and a history of gastritis, left hallux valgus with flexion deformities, right hallux valgus, and migraine headaches.
- Denied
The veteran's service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee is not productive of more than slight impairment, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.
- Denied
The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.
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