The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran’s back condition was last evaluated in August 2014, and further examination is needed to determine its current severity. Additionally, the issue of TDIU must be remanded for proper development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated under DC 5256 due to ankylosis, with a most recent evaluation showing it at 40 degrees of flexion. The current rating is not higher than the next highest, which requires more severe ankylosis (extremely unfavorable in flexion at an angle of 45 degrees or more). For his back condition, the Veteran was last evaluated in August 2014 and further examination is needed to determine if there has been any change in severity. The issue of TDIU must be remanded as it requires additional development.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Ankylosed, Back Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20012735
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 20012735.
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.
- Denied
The August 1996 rating decision denied service connection for a back condition due to the claim being considered not well-grounded, as there was no current disability and no evidence of in-service injury or disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the VA examination for service connection of the back condition and requires an addendum opinion to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's back disability began in service or was caused by any incident of service.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of August 12, 2024 for the awards of a 50% rating for sinusitis and a 40% rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine. Service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was also granted effective on that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, and back conditions due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he asserts had its onset during active service.
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