The Board has found that additional development is needed to properly rate the Veteran's service-connected femur fracture fixation with intramedullary rod and screws, limitation of extension of the right thigh, and limitation of flexion of the right thigh. The issues of entitlement to higher disability evaluations for painful scar of the right lower extremity and scarring of right thigh and right knee, an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for painful scar of the right lower extremity, and a TDIU are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that additional development is needed to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's hip/thigh disabilities due to conflicting range of motion findings in different examination reports. The presence of ankylosis is a significant factor in evaluating these disabilities, and further clarification on whether any ankylosis has resolved or if there is functional equivalent of ankylosis is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- femur fracture fixation with intramedullary rod and screws, right hip strain, limitation of extension of the right thigh, limitation of flexion of the right thigh, scarring of right thigh and right knee, painful scar of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 2, 2023
- Citation
- 23012776
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 23012776.
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 has remanded several claims for further action, including effective date determinations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's service records from Portsmouth Naval Hospital are requested to be obtained.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his right hip disability is denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 21, 2025.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disability is likely related to his service, granting him service connection for a right hip disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tension headaches, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right hip strain, and left hip strain due to inadequate opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by service-connected disabilities.
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