The Board has remanded the claim for a left foot/ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether any diagnosed left foot or ankle disorders are at least as likely as not related to service, considering the Veteran's lay statements and the lack of service treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis, degenerative arthritis, Achillis and plantar calcaneal spurs, plantar fascitis, tendonitis and capsulitis, a medial mid foot bone prominence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20080274
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a right foot disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, fibrocartilaginous calcaneonavicular with lateral cuneiform cuboid coalition, other unspecified right ankle disorder, and status post right foot fracture.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.