The Board has found the July 8, 2017 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) timely and remanded several issues related to service-connected disabilities including TDIU, DEA benefits, right total knee replacement rating, hypertension rating, right knee scar rating, left knee scar ratings, and SMC.
The deciding factor: The July 8, 2017 NOD was considered timely based on the Veteran's representative submitting a signed statement and VA Form 21-0958 indicating appeal of several issues related to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ did not inform the Veteran or his representative that the NOD was incomplete prior to 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Total Knee Replacement, Hypertension, Left Knee Scar, Status Post Total Knee Replacement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2020
- Citation
- A20019376
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 A20019376.
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 claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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