The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right big toe disability, including during flare-ups and after repeated use over time. Updated VA treatment records are also needed.
The deciding factor: The current examination did not address all diagnoses and failed to consider the Veteran’s reports of pain with heavy walking or exercise during flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a fracture of the right big toe, post-traumatic arthritis of the right interphalangeal joint, functional hallux limitus on the right, right hallux rigidus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2018
- Citation
- 18122774
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 18122774.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right hallux rigidus, right great toe osteoarthritis, and bilateral pes cavus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis. The rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was increased from 30% prior to December 8, 2015, to 50% effective that date.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal during a hearing.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for right foot and left foot disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of an additional disability resulting from VA care, nor did the current conditions have a nexus to service.
- Denied
The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability but denied it. The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his right hallux rigidus was also denied.
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