The Veteran's right ankle disability and other joint pain conditions are being remanded for further development. The issues of increased rating, compensable rating, service connection, and TDIU will be addressed after the additional examinations.
The deciding factor: Further examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s herniation of L4-L5 with degenerative joint disease, as well as his right ankle disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), and Quervain's syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- Herniation of L4-L5 with degenerative joint disease, Right ankle disability (claimed as joint pain), Degenerative joint disease of the right knee, Bilateral plantar fasciitis, Bilateral lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), Bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, Left wrist Quervain's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18128954
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 18128954.
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 Veteran's right and left knee braces caused wear and tear to his clothing in the year of 2021, leading to a decision granting annual clothing allowances for both knee braces.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis and left shoulder tendinitis due to inadequate medical opinion regarding causation.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his total right knee replacement and service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support finding an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for acquired flatfoot. The appeal is denied.
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