The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right and left knee scars, as well as remanded several other claims related to his knee disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding of painful or unstable scars, nor was there any functional limitation due to the scars during the appeal period. The ameliorative effects of medication were not properly considered in the evaluation of the Veteran's knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee scar, left knee scar, right knee disability, impairment of recurrent subluxation or instability, right knee disability, limitation of extension, left knee disability, impairment of recurrent subluxation or instability, left knee disability, limitation of flexion, left knee disability, limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25051117
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability but denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability prior to April 25, 2019.
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