The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hallux valgus, as well as his increased rating claims for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, hemorrhoids, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hallux valgus and its relationship to his service-connected pes planus, as well as the current severity of his spine disability, hemorrhoids, and bilateral knee disabilities. Therefore, additional examinations are needed.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hallux valgus, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, hemorrhoids, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20004068
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 claim for service connection for hemorrhoids due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an additional direct medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids, which fully satisfies the Veteran's appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for vertigo, incontinence, and GERD due to the lack of evidence supporting current diagnoses. The claims for hematuria and hemorrhoids were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids, scars, low back disability, left ankle disability, left and right shoulder disabilities, and left and right hip disabilities as the evidence did not show that the Veteran had these conditions or related symptoms during the appeal period.
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