The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Board found that VA did not comply with its duty to assist requirements under 38 U.S.C. § 5103A and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(a) due to the lack of proper range-of-motion testing in previous examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with left and right sacroiliac joint sprain and dysfunction with L3-S1 facet joint syndrome, post-operative with osteoarthritis (back disability), right knee lateral meniscus tear, post-operative with osteoarthritis (right knee disability), left knee strain with osteoarthritis associated with right knee lateral meniscus tear (left knee disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20054891
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 20054891.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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