The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine, left ankle, and right heel conditions due to insufficient information regarding flare-ups in medical examinations. The issues include increased ratings for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners failed to provide sufficient information regarding the frequency, severity, duration, and functional loss of the Veteran’s flare-ups as required by the holding in Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD), left distal tibia fracture with left ankle DJD, right heel fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20050715
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 20050715.
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: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no one has requested substitution for the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip and back disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disorders, including lumbar spine DJD and bilateral knee DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 12, 2006. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA are granted as of that date.
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