The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis and a post-convalescent rating in excess of 30 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis with residuals, status post joint fusion and ankylosis due to incomplete development.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there has not been substantial compliance with the September 2020 Board remand directives regarding retrospective medical opinions on range of motion loss.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle joint fusion with ankylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21042218
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 21042218.
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's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis has been dismissed.,Service connection for the right shoulder condition is granted, and new evidence supports readjudicating the claim for residuals of CAPSO.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, and vertigo, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, and left foot post-surgical scar due to an error in failing to provide notice of the right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current disability and his military service.
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