The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including skin condition, lumbar spine disability, wrist and thumb disabilities, foot disabilities, ankle disabilities, and knee disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's treatment for his skin condition, etiology of his back and bilateral hand conditions, etiology of his foot and ankle conditions, and etiology of his bilateral knee conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current examinations were inadequate as they did not address all relevant evidence, including recent medical records and lay statements from the Veteran and his wife. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new opinions based on a full review of the record.
- Claimed conditions
- skin condition, lumbar spine disability, right wrist and thumb disability, left wrist and thumb disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21063890
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 21063890.
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 Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
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