The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide a definitive opinion on the onset and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, which is necessary to determine whether they are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Arthritis, Left Shoulder Arthritis, Left Elbow Arthritis, Right Elbow Arthritis, Right Wrist Arthritis, Left Wrist Arthritis, Right Hand and Finger Arthritis, Left Hand and Finger Arthritis, Low Back Arthritis (Lumbar Spine), Left Knee Arthritis, Right Knee Arthritis, Right Ankle Arthritis, Left Ankle Arthritis, Left Foot and Toes Arthritis, Right Foot and Toes Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22033401
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 22033401.
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 claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions at the time of the June and August 2025 decisions. The cases will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and it is not etiologically related to a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's left total knee replacement with left knee arthritis and scar, status post left knee arthroscopy, are granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective February 28, 2025.
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