The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to address whether his respiratory disorder and right wrist conditions are related to service-connected sarcoidosis or other in-service exposures. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various ankle and foot disabilities have also been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claims required additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his respiratory disorder, right wrist conditions, and ankle/foot disabilities with service-connected sarcoidosis or other in-service exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory disorder other than sarcoidosis and sleep apnea, Right wrist tendonitis, Degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, Osteoarthritis of the right first metatarsophalangeal joints, Degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, Osteoarthritis of the left first metatarsophalangeal joints
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20054327
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 20054327.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a qualifying total service-connected disability rating or loss of use of lower extremities.
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle but granted a separate rating for instability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle and erectile dysfunction was withdrawn by the Veteran, resulting in their dismissal. The claims for allergic rhinitis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and migraine headaches are remanded for further development.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.