The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.
The deciding factor: Additional VA examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability and low back disability, including any flare-ups and functional loss.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23026576
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 23026576.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as left knee condition) and migraine headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.,Both conditions are found to be at least in equipoise, meaning there is a reasonable doubt that they are related to the service-connected conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings assigned for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, and painful scar from microdiscectomy were dismissed because he had already filed a pending supplemental claim regarding these issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right foot metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, bilateral knee strains with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service injuries and his long-term military service, including multiple jumps as a parachutist.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating assigned for each condition is appropriate based on the evidence of record.
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