The Board remands the claim for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to clarify functional loss during flare-ups and the ameliorative effects of medication use.
The deciding factor: The necessary VA medical opinion was not provided as requested due to the Veteran's failure to report for an examination, and the Board finds that additional information is needed regarding the impact of medication on the disability evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2025
- Citation
- 25006638
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 granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected right ankle sprain, but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for headaches, a bilateral wrist disability, a bilateral hip disability, facial scars, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability, diagnosed as chronic right ankle sprain. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded for further development.
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