The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars of the left and right ankle are rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 2015. Since that date, a higher rating is denied. The Board has also remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability (pes planus) and bilateral knee disability, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected right foot and ankle sprain and left ankle surgery.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s bilateral foot and knee disabilities are not shown to have had their onset in or be etiologically-related to his active duty service. However, the relationship between his service-connected right foot and ankle disability and left ankle surgery with his current bilateral foot and knee disabilities is unclear and requires further examination.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Surgical scars of the left and right ankle"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral foot disability (pes planus)"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral knee disability"}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19183167
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.
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- Partly granted
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- Granted
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