The Board has ordered further remand for the Veteran to be examined and updated records obtained, as the prior examinations did not comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin.
The deciding factor: The prior examination reports did not include range of motion data with or without weight-bearing, which is required by the Board's previous orders and the pertinent law.
- Claimed conditions
- bulging lumbar discs, thoracic myositis (back disability), right knee chondromalacia patella status post arthroscopy (right knee disability), left knee chondromalacia patella (left knee disability), right hand third finger trigger finger (right third finger disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20070650
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.