The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication for control and is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a rating of 10 percent, but not higher, is warranted.,VA examinations are inadequate to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee strain. A new VA examination is needed prior to adjudication of this claim.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and erectile dysfunction have been diagnosed but the medical opinions provided by VA are inadequate. Addendum VA medical opinions are needed prior to adjudication of these claims.,VA examinations are inadequate to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee strain. A new VA examination is needed prior to adjudication of this claim.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not indicate blood pressure levels that are, historically or otherwise, predominantly 100 or more for diastolic pressure or 160 or more for systolic pressure, but the Veteran needs three different medications to keep his blood pressure under control.,VA examinations are inadequate to assess the severity of the left knee strain. The examiner failed to provide information regarding testing of active motion and passive motion during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions.,The VA medical opinions provided were based on the lack of contemporaneous medical evidence post-service, which is insufficient as a basis for negative conclusions regarding bilateral pes planus and erectile dysfunction.,VA examinations are inadequate to assess the severity of the left knee strain. The examiner failed to provide information regarding testing of active motion and passive motion during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, bilateral pes planus, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23023617
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 23023617.
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.
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The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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