The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right hip condition and left hip condition are related to her service-connected bilateral knee conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' opinions were not adequate, as they did not address the positive nexus opinions provided by orthopedic specialists who linked the hip conditions to the gait abnormalities caused by the knee conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Right hip condition, Left hip condition
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22042048
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 22042048.
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 Board has granted service connection for a low back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hip condition, finding that the Veteran's back pain is aggravated by his right hip surgery.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis based on limitation of motion was denied. A separate 20 percent rating for a right knee meniscus tear is granted. The claims for service connection for left hip condition and right foot gout are dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and left hip conditions due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination regarding the Veteran's right hip condition, which could be related to his active-duty service. The claim will be reconsidered with the provision of an appropriate examination.
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