The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle/foot disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD and right knee DJD are also remanded.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence was received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle/foot disability, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Ankle/foot disability, Left knee DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease), Right knee DJD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18119644
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 18119644.
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 claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied as the evidence did not show that he required personal health-care services provided on a daily basis in his home by a person who is licensed to provide such services or under the regular supervision of a licensed health-care professional.
- Dismissed
The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the right total knee replacement (TKR) and dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed discontinuance of a separate 10 percent rating for right knee DJD.
- Granted
The Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2011 but not earlier. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran and finds that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2011.
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