The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as well as any functional impairment due to flare-ups. The VA examination will provide this information.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease with medial meniscus tears of the left knee, Bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, Traumatic arthritis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 14, 2018
- Citation
- 1809701
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 1809701.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and headaches secondary to service-connected conditions, and awarded a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle prior to July 5, 2018, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for SMC higher than (m) plus (k) was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under section 1114(o). The Veteran has more than one disability rated at 100 percent, but does not have two or more separate and distinct disabilities that would qualify him for SMC rates listed in subsections (l) through (n).
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, right and left knee chondromalacia, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period from June 2, 2008.
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