The Board has remanded the issues of increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease and irritable colon syndrome. The Veteran's claims are not currently granted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The current evidence does not demonstrate ankylosis in the Veteran's ankles or knees, which prevents a higher rating from being assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (left ankle), Degenerative Joint Disease (right ankle), Degenerative Joint Disease (left knee), Degenerative Joint Disease (right knee), Degenerative Disc Disease (lumbar spine), Multiple Bilateral Hip Disabilities, Irritable Colon Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20027520
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 20027520.
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 initial ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for OSA, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and irritable colon syndrome. Service connection was also denied for chronic fatigue syndrome and a respiratory disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA treatment records and private treatment records related to the Veteran's right knee disability. The claims for increased rating and TDIU need to be remanded to obtain these records.
- Granted
The Veteran's ratings for left and right knee degenerative joint disease have been granted, with separate 10% evaluations for instability. The effective date is not specified as the issue was not addressed in this decision.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee flexion and TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
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