The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion from a previous VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion.
The deciding factor: The April 2016 VA examiner did not provide an opinion that satisfies the legal standard of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding whether the Veteran’s preexisting left knee disorder was not clearly and unmistakably aggravated beyond its natural progression by service.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee condition (also claimed as osteoarthritis)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19184815
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 Board remands the claim for a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's left eye condition is related to service, as it found that the condition did not preexist service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sinusitis based on the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions are related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.