The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip, right hip, and left knee, as well as herniated and bulging discs of the back due to conflicting opinions and lack of medical evidence.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was based on the absence of findings in service treatment records and cited obesity as a cause for osteoarthritis. The Veteran provided additional information regarding his service experiences and lay statements about repetitive trauma, which need further clarification from an addendum opinion or new examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease, left hip, Degenerative joint disease, right hip, Degenerative joint disease, left knee, Herniated and bulging discs of the back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20048077
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 20048077.
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 Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and left hip due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and noting that the conditions began more than 10 years after service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee with limitation of extension beginning November 16, 2016, and a 60 percent rating for residuals of a total knee replacement of the left knee beginning February 1, 2020. The other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 29, 2021.
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