The Veteran's right ankle tendonitis is granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the entire claim period.,Service connection for a low back disability is granted. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and entitlement to TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right ankle tendonitis was found to have marked limitation of motion, warranting the assignment of a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.,Service connection for a low back disability is granted based on evidence indicating that the Veteran has a current low back disability etiologically related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Tendonitis, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20014000
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 20014000.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant medical records, including SSA disability records and Federal prison medical records, and request an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as his lumbar spine disorder. The Board found the evidence in balance regarding whether these conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and the Board finds that his back disability may be related to service. The case is remanded for a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, including degenerative joint disease and tendonitis. The appeal was also denied for increased ratings for right lower extremity shin splints with painful motion of the right knee and left lower extremity shin splints.
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