The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has reported an increase in the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability and a new examination is necessary to determine its current state.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2018
- Citation
- 1819473
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 1819473.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative changes of the left ankle, effective June 29, 2019. The issues regarding increased ratings and TDIU were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 20 percent each, based on marked limitation of motion. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.,The Veteran's left hamstring tear has not yet had a rating assigned due to lack of definitive information regarding abduction loss beyond 10 degrees. The case is being remanded for further examination and evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes status post right ankle fracture and degenerative changes of the left ankle remain on appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, effective July 28, 2009. The Board finds that a higher rating for his service-connected radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is warranted.
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