The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 4, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for lumbar spine disability, an initial compensable rating for right knee limitation of flexion, an initial compensable rating for left knee limitation of flexion, effective dates prior to March 4, 2021, for separate ratings for left and right knee limitations of flexion, and a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty to assist errors.
The deciding factor: The Board remands the claims due to duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal, including missing VA treatment records and inadequate medical examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee strain with chondromalacia patella associated with left foot fracture, degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee disability with limitation of flexion, left knee disability with limitation of flexion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25056793
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,902 · Granted: 11% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25056793.
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 Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating for lateral instability from January 4, 2019, and a 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage from June 13, 2017, to August 22, 2018. The claims for an earlier effective date, increased rating for extension, separate rating for shin splints, and special monthly compensation were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for right knee disability with limitation of flexion and a compensable rating for right knee disability with limitation of extension.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, skin disorders, a lumbar spine disability, GERD, right knee disabilities, and TDIU. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.