The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for right and left foot strain, as well as any arthritis in his feet. The VA will schedule an examination to determine if he has a current diagnosis of arthritis and whether it is related to service or caused by other service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous remand instructions were not fully complied with and thus requires further development, including scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's foot strain and arthritis claims.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot strain, left foot strain, arthritis in right foot, arthritis in left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 14, 2022
- Citation
- 22034679
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 22034679.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for left foot strain is dismissed.,Service connection for right elbow strain and tinnitus are denied.,Left ankle strain and right ankle strain are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot and ankle disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion to determine the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's left and right foot strains are rated at 20 percent each, effective October 1, 2024. The Board granted the ratings based on moderate severity of symptoms.
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