The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right ankle disability. Additionally, new medical opinions are needed to assess whether his claimed low back disability, left ankle disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The appeal is remanded due to possible worsening of the service-connected right ankle disability and the need for updated VA treatment records. Additionally, new medical opinions are required as the issues are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for the right ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hip disabilities
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2018
- Citation
- 1804507
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 1804507.
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.
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