The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left foot disorders and service connection for prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his left foot scar is also being remanded. The Veteran has provided lay assertions indicating that his lower back and left foot conditions have worsened since VA examinations conducted over 11 years ago, necessitating a new examination.,Regarding the service connection claims, the AOJ must determine whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service in Vietnam, as he maintains. If not, the claim for prostate cancer will be denied due to lack of evidence of exposure. The AOJ should also conduct an examination into any asbestos exposure and assess its potential impact on the Veteran's health.,The Veteran claims that his leakage and impotency are related to his prostate cancer treatment. The AOJ must determine whether these residuals are service-connected, as well as if they are aggravated by his prostate cancer.
The deciding factor: The initial ratings for left foot disorders need clarification due to the passage of time since the last examinations and the Veteran's assertions that his conditions have worsened.,For the claim regarding a compensable initial rating for the left foot scar, additional development is required as it involves a recent assertion by the Veteran about worsening symptoms over the past decade.,The service connection claims require clarification on whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service in Vietnam and if he has any asbestos exposure. The AOJ must also conduct an examination into these exposures and assess their impact on the Veteran's health.,For the residuals of prostate cancer, the AOJ needs to determine if they are related to the Veteran's prostate cancer treatment and whether they have been aggravated by his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome, left foot scar, diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis of the lumbar spine, prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 19, 2015
- Citation
- 1535404
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 1535404.
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 service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer has been granted. The prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at RTAFB Takhli. Bone cancer is secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. Lymph node cancer is also considered secondary to prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer but remanded the claim for PTSD due to insufficient verification of stressor incidents.
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