The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by her service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral pes planus, residuals of left ankle injury, and bilateral hallux valgus with degenerative changes of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joints.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the November 2019 examination report did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated her left knee osteoarthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral pes planus, residuals of left ankle injury, bilateral hallux valgus with degenerative changes of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joints
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20068338
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis effective February 1, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.
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