The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for chronic lumbosacral strain and left knee chondromalacia patella has been remanded due to the need for further development.
The deciding factor: Further evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's conditions warrant a higher rating based on their current severity and functional impact.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lumbosacral strain, Left knee chondromalacia patella
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21029613
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 21029613.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment as of May 24, 2010.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, effective December 8, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's left wrist and hand disabilities, as well as the effective dates for service connection, and also remanded claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella and subluxation.
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