The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to non-weightbearing range of motion, functional limitation, and medication effects on the lumbar spine. The right and left foot neuropathy ratings and effective dates need to be addressed. An opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to active duty service or a 1968 sprain.
The deciding factor: The Board has identified several issues that require further development, including functional loss assessments for the lumbar spine, evaluations of right and left foot neuropathy, and an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylosis, Right foot neuropathy, Left foot neuropathy, Left ankle disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23063766
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 23063766.
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 acquired psychiatric disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle fracture are all granted service connection. The right ankle fracture is remanded for a higher disability rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee tendinitis.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment prior to July 12, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, hypertension and heart disorder as secondary to service-connected residuals of right calf gastrocnemius herniation repair, compartment syndrome, neuropathy.
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