The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a temporary total rating for convalescence following left foot surgery, but the issues of increased rating and service connection for bilateral pes planus and ankle conditions are remanded due to need for additional evidence.
The deciding factor: Additional medical examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and to provide a rationale for any opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral ankle conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle osteoarthritis, Lateral collateral ligament sprain of left ankle
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20027840
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 20027840.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective October 17, 2020. The rating for the left knee strain was also granted at 20 percent, effective October 17, 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to functional limitations, but additional compensation under SMC(r)(1) or SMC(r)(2) is precluded as he does not meet the threshold requirement for consideration.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially his left ankle disability, have rendered him unemployable since March 1, 2009. The Board has determined that a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis is warranted for this period.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to his inability to demonstrate permanent and total disability as defined by VA regulations.
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