The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, low back, and left knee disorders secondary to a right ankle sprain due to potential causation or aggravation by altered biomechanics. The Veteran's current diagnoses include osteophytic spurring of the left ankle, lumbar degenerative joint disease/degenerative disc disease, and chondromalacia patella syndrome with degenerative joint disease and left knee sprain.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle sprain due to altered biomechanics, cumulative in-service physical duties, or other factors.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20062444
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 20062444.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hip disorder are related to his service-connected Crohn's disease.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, skin disorder, tongue condition, right chest costochondritis, and right hand shaking due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
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