The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands the case for further clarification of the relationship between the Veteran's left foot disorder and his military service, including stepping on a sea urchin.
The deciding factor: The opinion provided by the VA examiner was insufficient due to lack of clarity in whether it cannot be determined from current medical knowledge that a specific in-service injury could possibly cause the claimed disorder or if the actual cause is due to multiple potential causes.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2013
- Citation
- 1328926
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 1328926.
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 connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, and back disorders. The underlying merits of these claims must be addressed by the AOJ.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and conduct any necessary development, including VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.
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