The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected left ankle disability. The examiner will also address whether any diagnosed left foot disorder is related to military service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that a remand is necessary due to inadequate examinations conducted for assessing the Veteran's left ankle and left foot disabilities, as well as insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disability and his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot disorder, arthritis of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1820439
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1820439.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, and back disorders. The underlying merits of these claims must be addressed by the AOJ.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left foot disability, including arthritis and post-operative management for arthroplasty of the left great toe, was granted service connection as it had its onset during active service and continued to the present.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and conduct any necessary development, including VA examinations.
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