The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran is seeking secondary service connection for his left knee disability. A remand is required to obtain an addendum VA opinion addressing the specific contention that prior to his right knee surgery he had a double limp with created a severe limp in his left knee, as well as an adequate opinion on aggravation of nonservice-connected disabilities.,A remand is necessary for a new VA examination and rating determination due to the Veteran's testimony of worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a fractured nose with deviated nasal septum. A remand is required for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition, including sinusitis or rhinitis if applicable.,A TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for right knee disability and thus must be addressed together.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the underlying claim of service connection, specifically his sleep apnea began during active duty service.,The Veteran's specific contention regarding a double limp prior to right knee surgery and aggravation of nonservice-connected disabilities need clarification. The addendum VA opinion is required to address these issues.,The last VA examination did not accurately reflect the current severity and manifestations of his right knee patellofemoral syndrome with meniscal tear, necessitating a new examination for an accurate assessment.,The Veteran's testimony at his hearing indicates symptoms related to his service-connected residuals of a fractured nose with deviated nasal septum. A remand is required for a new VA examination and determination of the current severity of his condition, including sinusitis or rhinitis if applicable.,A TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for right knee disability and thus must be addressed together.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep apnea, left knee disability, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with meniscal tear, residuals of a fractured nose with deviated nasal septum
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2022
- Citation
- 22063833
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 22063833.
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 Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
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