The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate previous examinations.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examinations were deemed insufficient under Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017), as they did not provide adequate information regarding additional limitation of motion after repeated use and failed to explain the inability to gather information by alternative means.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle achilles tendonitis, right ankle achilles tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20062312
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 20062312.
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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