The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal and pulmonary conditions, including conducting new VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his lumbar spine strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee chondromalacia patella, right ankle strain (status-post surgery), and pulmonary sarcoidosis.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examinations were inadequate due to a lack of proper range of motion assessments and consideration of the Veteran's reported flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine strain, right knee chondromalacia patella, right ankle strain (status-post surgery), pulmonary sarcoidosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20064489
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 case is remanded to obtain a more thorough medical opinion regarding the Veteran's death and whether his service, including exposure to herbicides in Thailand, caused or triggered pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- Dismissed
The appeal for higher ratings and special monthly compensation was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions, as well as initial ratings higher than noncompensable for dermatitis and hypertension, and a rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine strain.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension and left knee limitation of extension, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia patella.
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