The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous VA examination and the need for additional evidence, including an addendum opinion from the August 2013 examiner.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were insufficient grounds in the previous examination report to determine whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disorders are related to his military service, particularly given the lack of mention of his period of service from June 2004 to April 2005 and Africa.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the great toes, pes cavus, hammertoes, atrophied fat pads, neuroma 2nd intermet space of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066332
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot hallux valgus, pes planus, hammertoes, and degenerative arthritis, with an effective date of February 19, 2019. The Board also granted an increased (40 percent) rating for residuals, rupture, right biceps tendon with elbow limitation of supination and extension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis since April 22, 2021, but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings prior to that date.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral feet arthritis and cold injury residuals of both feet, but denied service connection for hammertoes.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy and service connection for bilateral clawfoot was withdrawn by the Veteran, thus the Board has no jurisdiction to review these appeals.
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