The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for osteoarthritis status post right knee replacement (right knee disorder). The VA must obtain additional medical records, including those from the Walter Reed Army Hospital and private doctors. A VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the current right knee disorder is etiologically related to the April 1954 in-service assault or otherwise related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board did not sufficiently explain why all available STRs have been associated with the Veteran's file, and why a private examination was given no probative value.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis status post right knee replacement, right knee injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20029625
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 20029625.
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 service connection for a left ankle condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not etiologically related to his active duty.,The Board also denied service connection for a right knee injury, concluding that there is no nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of the award of an earlier effective date for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations for his low back injury, right knee injury, left knee injury, left ankle injury, and bilateral hearing loss have all been dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran through his representative.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for residuals of a spider bite, right thumb injury, and right knee injury due to insufficient evidence or further evaluation.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right knee injury, a compensable rating for left knee patella fracture status post-surgical repair with limitation of flexion, and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee patella fracture status post-surgical repair with limitation of extension due to non-compliance with the mandatory claim-processing rule.
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