The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development. Effective August 17, 2017, a 20% rating was granted for gout of the left big toe and a 10% rating was granted for achilles tendonitis of the right ankle.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show an increase in severity warranting the increased ratings within the year prior to August 17, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Gout of the left big toe, Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2023
- Citation
- 23056069
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 23056069.
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 increased rating and TDIU due to inadequate reasons or bases in the August 2024 decision. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA medical opinion that considers the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability without the ameliorative effects of medications as required by Jones, 26 Vet. App. 56, and Ingram, 38 Vet. App. 130.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral ankle tendonitis and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle was granted effective January 23, 2017. The appeal is denied prior to that date.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under DC 5271, which rates limitation of motion. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.
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