The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected left leg, left foot, and right knee disabilities. The VA needs to provide an updated opinion on this issue.
The deciding factor: The current medical opinion does not address the baseline level of severity of the right hip condition prior to aggravation by the service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Right anterior labrum tear, Left leg fracture with leg length discrepancy, Right knee conditions, Left foot plantar fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20019664
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 20019664.
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 Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and information from the Veteran's former federal employers.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to restore a separate 20% evaluation for left foot plantar fasciitis, finding that there was clear and unmistakable error in the original award of service connection.
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