The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's foot disabilities, including pes planus and hallux valgus. The examiner should consider the Veteran's statements as to symptoms and treatment, including his 1985 bilateral foot surgery.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current examination was inadequate due to its failure to address whether the preexisting pes planus was aggravated by service or related thereto.
- Claimed conditions
- Pes planus, Hallux valgus, Degenerative joint disease of great toes
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2011
- Citation
- 1129554
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 1129554.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for pes planus of the left foot as he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral foot pain disorder related to service and denied the claim.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disability was not rated higher than 10 percent, the right knee scar did not meet criteria for a compensable rating, and there was no evidence of left forearm or right forearm disorders. Service connection was denied for right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right foot disorders (flat foot, hallux valgus, hammer toe). Tinnitus was presumed to have been incurred in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GERD is granted service connection. The claims for pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The PTSD rating is also remanded.
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