The Veteran's claims for service connection on the issues of cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left hip osteoarthritis with trochanteric pain syndrome (including bursitis), right knee osteoarthritis, left knee disorder including strain, meniscal tear, and osteoarthritis, right lower extremity disorder manifested by leg pain, and left lower extremity disorder manifested by leg pain are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional development.
The deciding factor: Incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been identified as a reason for remanding these issues. Additionally, there is potential inextricability between the service connection claims for bilateral lower extremity pain.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left hip osteoarthritis with trochanteric pain syndrome (including bursitis), right knee osteoarthritis, left knee disorder including strain, meniscal tear, and osteoarthritis, right lower extremity disorder manifested by leg pain, left lower extremity disorder manifested by leg pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20068885
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 remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to the need for additional VA examinations.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral cataracts of the eyes.
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