The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and has remanded his claims for initial rating determinations due to the need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his earlier effective date claims, leaving only the initial rating determinations which require further evaluation by a clinician.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome, Left Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26036116
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 A26036116.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of his symptoms, including pain and instability. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination regarding the appropriate disability ratings for these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for acquired psychiatric disorder, and increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was also remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome and meniscal disorder, is rated at 30 percent effective December 4, 2018.
- Denied
The Board denied ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for various service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and musculoskeletal issues, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
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