The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, as secondary to service-connected DDD with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and right knee osteoarthritis with total knee replacement. Additional addendum opinions are needed to address the Veteran's theory that changes in biomechanics due to other service-connected conditions have aggravated his left knee arthritis.
The deciding factor: The Board requested additional addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee arthritis, specifically addressing whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected DDD with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee arthritis, DDD with spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, right knee osteoarthritis with total knee replacement
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2023
- Citation
- 23009203
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23009203.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the service connection for left and right knee arthritis, thus the appeal is dismissed.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed all other appeals related to various joint conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of functional impairment. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if any service-connected disability results in loss of use of both lower extremities, one lower extremity and one upper extremity, or residuals affecting balance and propulsion.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and his disabilities do not meet the requirements of SMC under this section.
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