The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining retrospective opinions considering functional loss without the ameliorative effects of medication.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the AOJ failed to rectify a pre-decisional error regarding the consideration of the ameliorative effects of medication on the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- right knee tendinitis, right knee limitation of extension, left knee limitation of flexion, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with DJD status post intrapatellar ligament tear, left knee limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26028158
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 A26028158.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left foot metatarsalgia, tinnitus, left wrist disability, right foot plantar warts, and for service connection for right foot plantar warts at a September 2024 hearing. Service connection was granted for migraines.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted earlier effective dates of January 22, 2024, for the grants of service connection for right ear hearing loss, a left shoulder disability (left shoulder strain with joint instability), a low back disability (lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)), left knee strain, left knee limitation of flexion, and left knee limitation of extension.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee limitation of extension. The effective dates are April 15, 2015, January 30, 2015, and January 20, 2015 respectively.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bowel and/or bladder disability, as well as other claims related to his spine and knee conditions, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters.
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