The Board has granted service connection for right ankle subtalar joint arthritis and has remanded the issue of service connection for recurrent endocrine disability manifested by hypogonadism (low testosterone). The Veteran's low testosterone is not a recognized disability for VA purposes, but further examination is needed to determine if it is related to his service-connected disabilities or toxic exposure risk activities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the right ankle subtalar joint arthritis originated during active service and granted service connection. The low testosterone condition is not a recognized disability for VA purposes, but further examination is needed to determine if it is related to his service-connected disabilities or toxic exposure risk activities.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle subtalar joint arthritis, hypogonadism (low testosterone)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23066655
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 23066655.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for myopia and remanded claims for service connection for depression, sleep disturbances, and hypogonadism due to insufficient evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided were not sufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. These matters are being remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), sleep apnea, hypogonadism, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) have all been denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence indicating a causal relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
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