The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating assigned for aortic valve insufficiency is granted with an effective date of April 29, 2008. The ratings for left knee patellar tendonitis and lumbar paraspinal tendonitis with degenerative disc disease are remanded due to inadequate examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has at least as likely as not experienced symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope at a workload greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs since the effective date of service connection for aortic valve insufficiency.
- Claimed conditions
- aortic valve insufficiency, left knee patellar tendonitis, right knee patellar tendonitis, lumbar paraspinal tendonitis with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy for the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve, radiculopathy for the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20039421
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 20039421.
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 right knee patellar tendonitis resulted in painful motion, but flexion was not limited to less than 30 degrees. The Board denied an increased rating and granted TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral knee and wrist disabilities were initially granted service connection with noncompensable ratings effective April 29, 2016. The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 29, 2016 for the 10 percent ratings assigned for each disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to clarify the current diagnosis of the Veteran's left knee disability, assess whether it would be less severe without service-connected PTSD, and determine if obesity is aggravated by PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's valvular heart disease and aortic valve insufficiency, which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The case will need further examination and opinion.
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