The Veteran's current right knee disability is being remanded for clarification on whether it is related to the shrapnel injury from a blast during service or if it is due to natural wear and tear.
The deciding factor: The addendum opinion is needed to determine if there is a separate injury/disability other than DJD, and whether any right knee disability is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the shrapnel wounds from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right knee, shrapnel injury from a blast in 1968
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23050142
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 23050142.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for DJD and instability of both knees but granted separate 20 percent ratings for dislocated semilunar cartilage in the left and right knees.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and TDIU prior to April 25, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The VA has ordered remand for additional evaluations of his coronary artery disease, right knee, and right shoulder conditions due to the possibility of worsening during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee limitation of extension was granted a 40 percent rating for the period prior to December 16, 2013.,For the period from December 16, 2013, the Veteran's right knee limitation of extension is rated at 40 percent.
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