The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including headaches, knee conditions, and back issues. The Board has ordered new examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions due to a possible material change in the Veteran’s disability.
The deciding factor: There is evidence that there has been a material change in the Veteran’s disability, necessitating new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- post-traumatic brain injury headaches, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right shin splints, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left shin splints, traumatic brain injury (TBI) (claimed as memory loss), cervical strain and degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21025500
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 21025500.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to address lay statements regarding in-service injuries. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete service treatment records, correct any duty-to-assist errors, and provide an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are related to heavy, repetitive lifting from his military duties.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for IBS, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy due to a procedural error in providing notice of his right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process related to obtaining and considering certain medical records, conducting appropriate examinations, and providing a comprehensive assessment of the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, including radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and current medical diagnoses.
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