The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the functional impact of flare-ups during the period on appeal.
The deciding factor: Additional medical opinions are required to assess the severity of the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his ability to function, particularly in relation to flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, Rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, Right elbow limitation of flexion, Right knee limited flexion due to right knee recalcitrant patellar tendinopathy status post-surgical repair, Left knee tendonitis with tendinopathy status post-surgical repair
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23025907
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 23025907.
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 right elbow limitation of flexion is currently rated at 30% from March 9, 2022. The Board has remanded the issue to obtain additional medical records and ensure that the examinations conducted in January 2016 and February 2020 substantially comply with prior remand directives.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40% effective November 4, 2002. The Board has also remanded this issue to obtain additional medical records from April 4, 2003, to November 4, 2002.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder, elbow limitation, elbow flexion, and lateral epicondylitis with tendinitis. The claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues related to the right elbow for compliance with a prior remand, specifically regarding the estimation of range of motion during flare-ups.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected disabilities during the period on appeal. The issues include increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, right elbow limitation of flexion, right knee limited flexion, and left knee tendonitis.
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