The Veteran's back condition, left knee conditions, and right knee conditions are being remanded for further development as the VA opinions did not adequately address his lay statements regarding the chronicity of his symptoms and the relationship between his service-connected bilateral flat foot disability and his current conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA opinions failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements about the continuity of his back pain and knee symptoms since service, which is necessary for a secondary service connection claim.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain (back condition), status post left knee total arthroplasty (left knee condition), status post right knee total arthroplasty (right knee condition)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26022383
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 A26022383.
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.
- Granted
The Board has restored the 10 percent disability rating for an adjustment disorder and the 20 percent disability rating for a back condition, effective June 1, 2025. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition and whether his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn may have caused his back condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and examination regarding his back condition, right shoulder condition, right ankle condition, migraine headaches, and urinary frequency. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a back condition, including as secondary to his service-connected right hip disability. The Veteran's current back condition is less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right hip disability. An addendum medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition is aggravated by his service-connected right hip disability.
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