The Veteran's left foot condition, neck condition, and low back condition are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. The examiner must consider the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries and current symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran has reported an in-service injury and ongoing symptoms since service, meeting the low threshold of McLendon v. Nicholson (2006).
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"left foot condition (claimed as left foot fracture)","diagnosis":"degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint"}, {"condition_name":"neck condition","diagnosis":"not specified in the decision summary, but may be related to a fall injury during military service."}, {"condition_name":"low back condition","diagnosis":"not specified in the decision summary, but may be related to an in-service fall and currently diagnosed neck disability."}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19181046
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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