The Board has remanded the cases for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip conditions are aggravated by his service-connected back disability. The focus is on secondary service connection on an aggravation basis.
The deciding factor: The Court found that the December 2018 VA opinion was inadequate because it used the pre-Ward definition of 'aggravation' (requiring a permanent worsening).
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hip Condition, Left Hip Condition
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20058096
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 20058096.
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 Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right hip conditions due to inadequate opinions in prior adjudications.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left hip conditions are granted as secondary to her service-connected knee conditions.,The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right knee strains, and TDIU claim are remanded due to inadequate examination.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding earlier effective dates for IBS and IVDS is dismissed.,The reduction in the rating for painful right toes scars is granted, restoring a 10 percent rating from May 3, 2023.,Increased ratings to 20 percent for lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as of October 21, 2024.,Service connection and increased ratings for left hip conditions, right hip conditions, left knee condition, ED, and depressive disorder are granted.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip condition is at least as likely as not related to hip pain during service, and thus grants service connection for a right hip condition.
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