The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 40% effective February 2, 2018. The right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10%. These ratings are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.,A new VA examination is needed for the Veteran’s lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examinations were found to be inadequate as they did not comply with the requirements set out in Correia v. McDonald (2016) and failed to consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's disability levels.,A new VA examination is needed to assess the current nature, cause, and severity of the service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbar Spine Disability, Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20054383
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20054383.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
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