The Board has granted effective dates of May 14, 2012 for the grant of service connection for hammer toes and calluses. The claim for a low back disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether it is proximately related to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to provide an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current low back disorder and his service-connected hammer toes and calluses of both feet, including whether the disorders are proximately caused or aggravated by these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- hammer toes, calluses
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18135579
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 18135579.
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 determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires additional development, including an addendum VA opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the preexistence and aggravation of foot disabilities during service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic feet pain, corns, and calluses due to aggravation during active duty service. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was aggravated by his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an addendum or supplemental medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically his pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hammer toes.
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