The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, but he seeks a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous examinations were not adequate and required new evaluations to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s right ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006508
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spondylolisthesis and bilateral ankle dermatitis, restored the ratings for left knee limitation of extension, left ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD), and right ankle DJD, and denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a right 5th finger scar, increased ratings for left knee flexion and extension, and rhinitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action, including obtaining missing medical records and scheduling new VA examinations.
- Granted
The Veteran's right ankle DJD is granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right leg disability other than a right ankle disability and varicose veins, to include right knee DJD, is remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.