The Board has remanded six issues of service connection for various knee and hip conditions, as well as arthritis in the left foot. The reasons include insufficient evidence to determine if the pre-existing lumbar spine disorder was aggravated by service or if the left foot arthritis is related to a vehicle accident during service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is insufficient competent evidence to render a decision on whether the Veteran's preexisting lumbar spine disorder was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service, or if the left foot arthritis is etiologically related to service due to a vehicle accident in October 1974.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD), arthritis in the left foot, osteoarthritis in the right knee, osteoarthritis in the left knee, osteoarthritis in the right hip, osteoarthritis in the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20066925
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative joint disease but remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected back disability was granted a 40 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a right knee disability because the Veteran has not had a VA examination to determine if the disability is related to service. The Board will consider new evidence submitted during an applicable evidentiary window.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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