The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and right knee degenerative joint disease. The VA examinations conducted were found to be inadequate, necessitating further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not adequately assess the point at which pain began in the various ROM planes and whether the Veteran demonstrated the functional equivalent of ankylosis during the period on appeal for her lumbar DDD and right knee DJD.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative disc disease (lower back disability), right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23051451
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 23051451.
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 Board has decided to remand the case for further adjudication due to new and relevant evidence received, which suggests that the Veteran's right knee DJD may be secondary to his service-connected left knee DJD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for right hand 5th finger sprain and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease, and remanded several service connection claims due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for slight right knee instability but denied ratings in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent for the torn meniscus and degenerative joint disease, respectively.
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