The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability. The examiner did not adequately discuss the Veteran's lay statements and concluded that his current condition may be related to post-service employment, which is considered speculative.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner’s opinion was found to be insufficient as it did not provide a clear conclusion with supporting data and a reasoned medical explanation connecting the Veteran's lay contentions to the etiology of his left ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007216
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 21007216.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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The appeal for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle and erectile dysfunction was withdrawn by the Veteran, resulting in their dismissal.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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection is granted for thrombosis of the left axillary and subclavian vein. The Board also finds that service connection is warranted for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, left ankle, left shoulder, right shoulder, epicondylitis of the left elbow, epicondylitis of the right elbow, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. Service connection was not granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, or left upper extremity.
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