The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to a need for new VA examinations to determine current severity.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported worsening symptoms, and the last VA examinations were conducted in 2013, necessitating updated evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability), left knee strain (left knee disability), right knee strain (right knee disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2021
- Citation
- 21062187
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 Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date than June 30, 2022, for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected costochondritis, cervical strain, right knee strain (right knee disability), and right wrist chronic sprain.
- Granted
The Board has restored the 20 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain (back disability) effective from June 10, 2015. The initial and increased ratings for the left knee and left ankle disabilities remain denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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