The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for right foot hammertoes, left foot hammertoes, right foot hallux rigidus and hallux valgus, left foot hallux rigidus and hallux valgus, right lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndrome, left lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndrome, right foot metatarsalgia, and left foot metatarsalgia due to insufficient rationale in the December 2016 VA examination report.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the December 2016 VA examination report was inadequate as it failed to provide sufficient rationale to explain the negative nexus between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his service-connected pes planus, and did not address aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot hammertoes, left foot hammertoes, right foot hallux rigidus and hallux valgus, left foot hallux rigidus and hallux valgus, right lower extremity, tarsal tunnel syndrome, left lower extremity, tarsal tunnel syndrome, right foot metatarsalgia, left foot metatarsalgia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006071
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 hearing loss and denied increased ratings for sleep apnea, left ankle scar, painful left ankle scar, acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder), left foot metatarsalgia, and right knee limitation of flexion. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left foot neuropathy and 20 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 15, 2022, for a 10 percent maximum initial rating for service-connected right foot metatarsalgia and granted service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including foot and calf pain, hammertoes, hallux valgus, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding that a disability of service origin did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's accidental death.
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