The Veteran's request for an increased evaluation of his left ankle disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and lumbar back disabilities are also remanded as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability, requiring a comprehensive opinion from a VA examiner.,No specific rating or effective date was provided in this decision.
The deciding factor: The current evaluations of the Veteran's left ankle disability do not reflect the current state of his condition due to recent assertions and testimony indicating worsening symptoms. Therefore, a new examination is required for an accurate assessment.,Secondary service connection claims require a comprehensive opinion addressing whether the right ankle and lumbar back disabilities are related to or aggravated by the service-connected left ankle disability. The Veteran's history and current symptoms must be considered in this evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disability, right ankle disability, lumbar back disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19184880
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.
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