The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and remanded his right knee disabilities. The case is now pending further examination and evaluation.
The deciding factor: Further medical examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disabilities, as the recent VA examination did not comply with the requirements in Correia v. McDonald (2016).
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22019452
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 22019452.
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 has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as they are primarily manifested by degenerative changes, some limitation of flexion, pain, and fatigability.
- Granted
The Board found that the claim of service connection for a right knee disability is well grounded. The RO was instructed to schedule an orthopedic examination and consider applying VA regulations regarding service connection, evaluations, and staged ratings.
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