The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities, including whether they represent ankylosis. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the claims for increased ratings.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the May 2019 VA examination did not address the Veteran’s reports of neurological impairments due to his service-connected ankle disabilities and that a new examination is needed to determine whether any current ankle disability represents a neurological abnormality associated with the service-connected left and right ankle tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, as well as whether the nature and severity of his bilateral ankle disabilities are tantamount to ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle achilles tendonitis, right ankle achilles tendonitis with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20049945
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20049945.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring another VA examination for nerve conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted a 20% rating from July 30, 2012 to February 18, 2023. The claim for an increased rating beyond this period is denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back and left ankle disabilities, granted a 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 14, 2023, to October 11, 2023, and granted an earlier effective date of January 14, 2016, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the awards of 10 percent ratings for right and left ankle achilles tendonitis, as it was not factually ascertainable that a 10 percent rating was warranted within one year prior to September 2, 2023.
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