The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the reopening of this claim. However, the matter of assigning a disability rating remains pending as the Veteran must be afforded an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinea pedis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided credible lay and buddy statements indicating he has had tinea pedis of the bilateral feet since service. The Board finds that new evidence supports reopening the claim, but further medical evaluation is needed to establish a link between current symptoms and service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinea pedis of the bilateral feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19104563
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 bilateral planter fasciitis and remanded the other issues, including a compensable evaluation for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet, service connection for dermatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 60 percent rating for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet and onychomycosis of the bilateral feet and right hand, but remanded service connection for left arm atrophy as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 1, 2015, as the evidence did not support finding that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for tinea pedis, hammertoes, hallux valgus, and pes planus, as well as the propriety of a noncompensable rating for surgical scars from hammertoe repair.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.