The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities and diverticulitis/diverticulosis to obtain additional medical evidence regarding their etiology, specifically addressing theories of causation or aggravation by service-connected lower extremity conditions.
The deciding factor: The April 2021 examiner's opinion did not adequately address the Veteran's contentions regarding gait changes and biomechanical adjustments due to his service-connected disabilities, nor did it consider the impact of obesity on causing excessive constant stress or pressure on the Veteran's knees. Additionally, the examiner failed to consider in-service gastrointestinal complaints relevant to a determination of eligibility for service connection for diverticulitis.
- Claimed conditions
- Left hip disability, Right hip disability, Diverticulitis/diverticulosis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21061565
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
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The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
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