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 examiner's opinion 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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent, but not higher, has been assigned for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection has also been established for migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis in the left knee, right knee disorder (osteoarthritis), right ankle sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral flat feet, and various foot conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left foot metatarsalgia, tinnitus, left wrist disability, right foot plantar warts, and for service connection for right foot plantar warts at a September 2024 hearing. Service connection was granted for migraines.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection and increased ratings for PTSD, sleep apnea, right knee disability, limitation of left knee extension, limitation of left knee flexion, and left shoulder disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.
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