The Board has denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing chronicity or continuity of symptomatology. The appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs do not document complaints, treatments, or diagnosis for his ankle conditions until after service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Left Ankle Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22009218
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 22009218.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected right knee strain and left ankle DJD, finding that the weight gain resulting from these conditions is an intermediate step between the service-connected disabilities and the development of OSA.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and remanded issues related to reductions in ratings for right ankle DJD, peripheral neuropathy of left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of right upper extremity.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA, depressive disorder, right knee pain, left knee pain, and right ankle DJD are all granted service connection. The rating for chronic low back pain is increased to 40 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD, right ankle DJD, right ankle laxity, painful scar on the right ankle, and linear surgical scar on the right ankle are all being remanded for further evaluation. Additionally, his TDIU claim is also being remanded.
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