The Board has remanded the case due to new contentions from the Veteran regarding his left foot condition, which is currently service-connected. The case needs further development with a medical opinion on whether obesity (caused by service-connected disabilities) caused or aggravated the Veteran's left foot disability.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on new evidence presented by the Veteran and requires an addendum medical opinion to address the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his current left foot condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot hallux valgus, left foot mild pes planus, degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20079267
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 20079267.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the merits as they have no jurisdiction.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations. The TDIU claim was granted due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking treatment for his left foot hallux valgus, pes planus, right fifth finger traumatic injury with arthritis, but the VA examinations did not consider all relevant evidence.
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