The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to his service-connected left hip and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.
The deciding factor: Additional medical reports are needed to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left hip and knee disabilities, including consideration of functional loss during flare-ups and with repeated use over time.
- Claimed conditions
- left total hip replacement, degenerative joint disease, left hip, left knee total knee arthroplasty, bipartite patella, status post excision
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2022
- Citation
- 22039605
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 22039605.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee and ankle conditions, as well as for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), due to inadequate examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing and following substantially gainful employment, but she was granted a TDIU. However, the SMC at the housebound rate is denied as she does not meet the criteria for such benefits.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, liver cancer, portal vein thrombosis, and left total hip replacement as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left total hip replacement as secondary to his service-connected right knee replacement, finding that the disability is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.