The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot neuropathy, increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis with tarsal neuropathy, initial rating for left foot tendinitis, fasciitis, and hallux valgus deformity, and TDIU are all pending.
The deciding factor: The Court found that the Board failed to address a May 2007 letter from the Veteran's private podiatrist stating that left foot neuropathy was directly caused or aggravated by physical training during active service. Therefore, VA has a duty under the VCAA to provide an examination to assess this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- neuropathy of the left foot, right foot plantar fasciitis with tarsal neuropathy, left foot tendinitis, fasciitis and hallux valgus deformity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2011
- Citation
- 1141749
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 1141749.
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 service-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia of both feet, plantar fasciitis of both feet, and neuropathy of both feet have been granted effective July 14, 2014. The Veteran also received a separate rating for hammertoes of the right foot (10%) and left foot (10%), as well as arthritis of the first MTP joint of the right and left foot (10%).
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.,Service connection for OSA and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied, with no evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand two claims for service connection for neuropathy of the left and right feet due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with additional evidence and a new VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for neuropathy of the right and left feet due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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