The Board has determined that the claims must be remanded to correct a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee conditions during the period on appeal. The claim for DEA benefits prior to August 27, 2024, remains inextricably intertwined with these issues.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the current rating decisions are incomplete due to a lack of adequate VA examinations or medical opinions addressing the severity of the Veteran's knee conditions during the period on appeal. The claims for higher ratings and effective dates must be remanded to obtain such evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- Right knee joint osteoarthritis (flexion), Left knee joint osteoarthritis (flexion), Meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, left knee (instability), Osteoarthritis, right knee (extension), Osteoarthritis, left knee (extension)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26018037
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26018037.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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