The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its June 2020 remand directives and thus, the claims are being returned to the RO for corrective action. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a joint pain disability or functional impairment of his joints related to service-connected pes planus, and an addendum opinion is required regarding whether the lumbar spine disability is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected pes planus.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA did not comply with its previous remand directives, which included scheduling a VA examination for joint pain disability and obtaining an addendum opinion on the relationship between the lumbar spine disability and service-connected pes planus.
- Claimed conditions
- joint pain disability, lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20053874
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 20053874.
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 Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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