The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left foot hallux rigidus, with hammertoes; residuals of a right hip replacement with residual scar; and right knee degenerative joint disease with residual scar.
The deciding factor: The June 2019 examiner provided conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by her service-connected right foot disability. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion clarifying aggravation of the claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot hallux rigidus, left foot hammertoes, right hip replacement with residual scar, right knee degenerative joint disease with residual scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2019
- Citation
- A19003244
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 A19003244.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including foot and calf pain, hammertoes, hallux valgus, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.
- Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right and left foot hallux valgus and right and left foot hammertoes, as the maximum 10 percent ratings were already assigned.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left foot hammertoes to obtain adequate medical opinions addressing all reasonably raised theories of service connection.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus and denied higher ratings for left and right foot hammertoes, as well as compensable ratings for right and left foot hallux valgus.
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