The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's right ankle conditions, including degenerative joint disease, plantar heel spur, and post-fracture arthritic changes, are being reviewed for direct service connection as well as causation or aggravation by his left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current diagnoses of the Veteran's right ankle conditions were not adequately addressed in the previous medical opinions due to incomplete records and improper reliance on the absence of records showing a link between the left knee condition and the right ankle issues.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle joint and subtalar joint degenerative joint disease, plantar heel spur, post fracture arthritic changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24038881
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 A24038881.
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
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