The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hammertoes and right foot bunion. The examiner must provide a new opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service, considering the Veteran's history of bunions.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examiners did not adequately address the applicability of medical principles in the context of the Veteran's history of bunions and ill-fitting footwear.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hammertoes, hallux valgus deformity (left foot), right foot bunion (hallux valgus deformity)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19194932
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 19194932.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hammertoes and chronic mycotic infections of the bilateral feet, as there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, eye disorder, bilateral hammertoes, and muscle and joint disorders to ensure compliance with prior remand orders.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including a bilateral foot disability, bilateral wrist disability, left shoulder disability, depression, recurring umbilical hernia, hemorrhoids, bilateral hammertoes, left knee disability, right knee disability, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus type 2.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral foot metatarsalgia, bilateral hammertoes, and bilateral foot arthritis was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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.