The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and stomach condition (GERD) due to potential issues with causation and aggravation, as well as a need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners were instructed to consider the effects of medications prescribed for the service-connected right knee disability on the Veteran's stomach and left knee.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee disability (degenerative joint disease), stomach condition (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20043893
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 20043893.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a left knee disability based on new and relevant evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a stomach condition (GERD), psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries or diseases.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a respiratory disability to include asthma, and a left knee disability to include degenerative joint disease need further review due to incomplete records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered remand for new VA examinations due to inadequate previous evaluations and requested addendum opinions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, an initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for a stomach condition (GERD).
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.