The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions due to an inadequate examination in the prior decision and new evidence of a continuity of symptoms since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the prior decision relied on an inadequate examination report, particularly regarding the Veteran's assertions of combat-related injuries during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, back disorder, residuals of a flesh wound of the right leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20069840
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 appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder with radiculopathy of the lower extremities and bilateral hip and knee disorders due to the need for VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder as it was less likely than not related to the Veteran's service or caused by falls due to his service-connected hip and lumbar spine disabilities.
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