The Veteran's appeals for ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings for her service connected right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndromes are denied. The appeal for service connection for cervical strain and right and left leg radiculopathy is remanded due to a duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current cervical strain, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy disabilities have not been linked to her service-connected thoracic spondylosis disability with medical opinions required for secondary service connection determination.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Left Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Cervical Strain, Right Leg Radiculopathy, Left Leg Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2024
- Citation
- A24046690
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 A24046690.
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 PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a right knee condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must attempt to verify the claimed stressor events and provide a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tendinitis, and strain, status post arthroscopy with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), and awarded an initial compensable rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tendinitis, and strain, status post arthroscopy with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis (limitation of extension).
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back and right knee disabilities, finding that these conditions caused his obesity, which in turn led to his current condition.
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