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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22006664.
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 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
The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed discontinuance of a temporary total rating based on convalescence for right ankle tendonitis and instability status-post subtalar arthrodesis ORIF due to procedural issues.
- 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.
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.