The Veteran's claim for service connection for trochanteric bursitis and osteoarthritis of the left hip, to include as secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is remanded. Additionally, his claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected status post left knee arthroplasty (previously rated as residuals, left knee injury) is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay testimony and additional medical evidence indicate that his hip conditions may be related to his service-connected lumbar spine condition. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- trochanteric bursitis, osteoarthritis of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20024760
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 20024760.
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 Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the November 2024 VA examination, where the examiner did not consider the effects of medication on his left hip disability. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining an opinion regarding the severity of the condition without considering the ameliorative effects of medications.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and notification issues. The AOJ must obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's back, hip, and leg disabilities are directly related to his active service or secondary to a previously service-connected condition.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is etiologically related to service and grants her claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of both hips and obstructive sleep apnea due to a need for further evidentiary development.
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