The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of the current severity of his right foot and ankle disabilities, including any residuals. The Veteran also has a TDIU claim that needs further development.
The deciding factor: Insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran’s right foot and ankle disabilities, including any residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot degenerative arthritis, right ankle distal fibula fracture, residual scars, right lateral ankle and right mid-foot, painful scar right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21023454
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 21023454.
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 Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right foot degenerative arthritis before the Board could make a decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, and the claims are dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot disability. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left and right foot hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.
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