The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right tibial stress fractures with ankle strain should be remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not attend a previously scheduled VA examination, and he has since reported additional symptoms. A new examination is needed to assess his current disability levels.
- Claimed conditions
- left tibial stress fracture, right tibial stress fracture with ankle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2021
- Citation
- 21077302
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 21077302.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left tibial stress fracture and for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia due to inadequate examinations and overlapping symptoms between the conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied because the evidence did not show loss of use of either hand or foot.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left tibial stress fractures as secondary to the service-connected PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for left and right tibial stress fractures as there is no current diagnosis of such conditions separate from the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral chondromalacia patella with shin splints.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.