The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for left ankle disorder and back disorder due to ionizing radiation or as secondary to left ankle dislocation need further review. The decision is remanded because additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for updated VA treatment records and a new opinion from an appropriate examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s left ankle disorder, including consideration of the Veteran's lay statements about injuries during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disorder, back disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19193470
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 19193470.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for several disorders, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded additional claims for further development.
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