The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The new examination must consider continuity of symptoms, use the correct standard for aggravation (any increase), and provide a rationale for each opinion.
The deciding factor: The previous opinions relied on incorrect standards and did not adequately address continuity of symptoms or the correct standard for secondary service connection (aggravation).
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle degenerative joint disease, left ankle instability, right ankle instability
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22006664
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22006664.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 a higher rating for service-connected right ankle with traumatic arthritis (claimed as right ankle instability). The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Dismissed
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for hearing loss.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for right ankle instability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limited motion.
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