The Board has found that the reductions of ratings for back and right knee disabilities were improper due to inadequate examinations. The claims are remanded for further evaluations.
The deciding factor: The reduction of ratings was based on a single, inadequate VA examination which did not provide estimated range of motion measurements during flares or after repeated use over time.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine (back disability), Right knee arthralgia with instability, Limitation of extension of the right knee, Radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (RLE), Radiculopathy in the left lower extremity (LLE)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2026
- Citation
- A26037425
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 A26037425.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for her neck disability beginning April 27, 2018, and had some issues denied or remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development of evidence, including obtaining a new retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability throughout the entire appeal period and updating treatment records.
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