The Board has denied a higher disability rating for left ankle tendonitis and has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to military sexual trauma (PTSD). The Veteran's claim for PTSD is being remanded because VA did not provide proper notice regarding personal assault claims, and additional efforts are needed to verify her alleged stressors.
The deciding factor: VA failed to provide proper VCAA notice specific to the Veteran's personal assault claim for PTSD, which requires special consideration due to its sensitive nature. Further, VA needs to conduct exhaustive efforts to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors related to sexual harassment in service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle tendonitis, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19155857
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 19155857.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle tendonitis due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the April 2021 medical opinion. The case is being returned to the AOJ for an addendum opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle tendonitis, left ankle tendonitis, and left hip joint condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding medication use and secondary service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for right knee arthritis is dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is remanded due to new and relevant evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's left ankle condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition. The VA will provide an opinion regarding this issue.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.