The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a back disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, bilateral hands, bilateral knees, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new and material evidence had been received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability but did not find any direct evidence linking the current disabilities to service. The claims are remanded as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to decide them.
- Claimed conditions
- Back, Right Shoulder (Arthritis), Left Hand (Arthritis), Right Hand (Arthritis), Right Knee (Arthritis), Left Knee (Arthritis), Right Ankle (Arthritis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22033036
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 22033036.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various knee and back disabilities, as well as radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE), have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a right hip disability secondary to his back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee, back, and left elbow disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The AOJ is directed to obtain medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's disabilities during the relevant period on appeal.
- Denied
An initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no more, for a back disability effective September 2, 2018 is granted.,An initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a combined effects opinion is necessary to sufficiently address the Veteran's claim for TDIU.
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