The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of any currently diagnosed foot disorder and whether it is at least as likely as not related to active service or the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran will be scheduled for another VA examination.
The deciding factor: The previous opinion was inadequate due to lack of rationale, and a new examination is needed to provide an informed opinion on the etiology of the foot disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flat foot, bilateral metatarsalgia, bilateral hammer toes, bilateral hallux valgus, degenerative arthritis of the feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2016
- Citation
- 1624699
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 1624699.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, and a need for additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's military occupation as a water safety survival instructor.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral flat foot due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for rating purposes and thus remands the case to obtain a new examination. The issues include determining whether bilateral hallux valgus and/or acquired pes cavus are secondary to sesamoiditis, whether there is a neurological disability of the right great toe, and whether there was a period of convalescence following the July 2022 sesamoidectomy.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience, granting entitlement to TDIU.
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