The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential missing VA treatment records and other factors.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that there may be relevant VA treatment records from before March 2002 which could affect the outcome of the Veteran's claims, particularly those involving his feet and ankles. The AOJ is therefore directed to obtain these records and provide an opportunity for further examination or opinion as needed.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle arthritis, right ankle arthritis, right wrist fracture and/or arthritis, skin disorder (presumed or otherwise), right foot arthritis, plantar warts, Achilles' tendonitis, left foot arthritis, plantar warts, Achilles' tendonitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, lower back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, skin disorder of the feet (including onychomycosis and/or tinea pedis)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21068795
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 21068795.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
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