The Board has remanded the case due to a failure by the AOJ to substantially comply with the March 2019 Remand directives. The Veteran's service records show knee problems during service, and he testified that his knees started hurting after service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any current knee disorders are related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found an addendum opinion necessary as the July 2019 VA examiner failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements about knee pain during and after service, and did not provide etiology for each diagnosed condition.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral knee strain, bipartite patella (left knee), patellofemoral pain syndrome (bilateral)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20075351
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20075351.
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 has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC enrollment to be legally inadequate and remanded for a new medical opinion that adequately addresses the criteria for eligibility as set forth in VA regulations.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, including arthritis, is service connected as it had its onset during his active service and there is no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions. The appeal for service connection is granted.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right lower leg disability (claimed as right shin splints) due to insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current right leg disability and that any symptoms he experienced were related to bilateral knee arthritis, which is not presumed by VA law.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.
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