The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right foot hallux valgus, as well as TDIU based on bilateral foot condition. The Veteran is entitled to separate disability ratings of 10 percent each, but no higher, for her bunionectomy scars.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected hallux valgus residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7804 for her bunionectomy scars. The remand is to obtain additional medical opinions regarding any hammertoes and their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected hallux valgus.
- Claimed conditions
- Left foot scars, Right foot scars, Bilateral hallux valgus (post-bunionectomy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20078250
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 20078250.
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 the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for her right and left foot scars, finding that the evidence did not show an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's bilateral tinnitus, left foot disability (4th and 5th digit extensor tendonitis), and left foot scars.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board dismissed the case.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, denied increased ratings for the right foot stress fracture and scars, restored a 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA. The Board remanded claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and increased evaluations for the low back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
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