The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the evaluation of her left knee and foot disabilities. The VA examinations are inadequate as they did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.
The deciding factor: VA examinations were insufficient in considering the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, left foot plantar calluses with hallux valgus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26039246
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 A26039246.
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 Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the evaluation of her service-connected left knee and foot disabilities. The VA examinations are inadequate as they did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including tendonitis and ACJ sprain, is granted as service-connected based on in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's right knee condition, including meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, is granted as service-connected due to in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear is granted as service-connected due to in-service onset and secondary to the right knee condition.,The Veteran's left Achilles tendinitis is granted as service-connected based on in-service onset.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis is granted as incurred in service and has continued since then.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected shin splints, left lower extremity, with knee impairment.
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