The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for hammertoes because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of hammertoes, and if so, whether such diagnosis is related to service. The matter is REMANDED for an examination by an appropriate clinician.
The deciding factor: The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without an opinion on the relationship between any diagnosed toe disorder and service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hammer toes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19105708
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 remands the claims for service connection for a mid/lower back disability, bilateral hammer toes, bilateral plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and residuals of COVID-19 to obtain additional evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral hallux rigidus, and bilateral hammer toes based on the evidence showing an increase in severity during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various foot conditions due to a need for additional medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for trapezius muscle injury, bilateral metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, pes planus, hallux rigidus, and sleep apnea were dismissed. However, the veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hammer toes, bilateral hallux valgus, and erectile dysfunction.
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