The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral flatfoot, hammer toes of the right foot, hammer toes of the left foot, and a left foot or ankle disability (other than flatfoot and hammer toes) due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination opinions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide adequate rationale for their findings regarding whether the Veteran's conditions are congenital defects or diseases, and did not address the continuity of symptomatology as claimed by the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flatfoot, hammer toes of the right foot, hammer toes of the left foot, left foot or ankle disability (other than flatfoot and hammer toes)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20055151
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 20055151.
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 service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's hammer toes of the left foot and right foot are not rated higher than the current rating, and his scars of both feet do not warrant a compensable disability rating.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for a skin condition, traumatic brain injury, a respiratory disability, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral flatfoot.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic back pain, bilateral flatfoot, and hypertension as these conditions are found to have onset in service and continued since separation from service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral flatfoot and osteoarthritis due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.