The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for several issues, including increased disability ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The left knee issue requires an SOC due to non-compliance with prior Board directives. The thoracic and lumbar spondylosis, adjustment disorder, TBI, and post-traumatic headaches issues require additional examinations and assessments.
The deciding factor: The appeal is being remanded because the Veteran did not receive a Statement of the Case (SOC) for one issue due to non-compliance with prior Board directives. The other issues require further examination and assessment as per VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee medial collateral ligament sprain, thoracic and lumbar spondylosis, and degenerative joint disease at sacroiliac area, adjustment disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23020179
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 23020179.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, left hip disability, TBI, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,Specifically, the VA examination in December 2019 determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for erectile dysfunction and granted an earlier effective date of March 31, 2015, for a 50% evaluation of other specified trauma disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain his complete service personnel records and service treatment records, which were received prior to the issuance of the decision on appeal.
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