The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hallux valgus and left foot hallux rigidus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not provide sufficient rationale or opinion on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service, specifically bilateral knee patellofemoral tendonitis and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hallux valgus, left foot hallux rigidus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20080196
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 Board granted service connection for bilateral hallux valgus and left 2nd hammertoe, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Dismissed
The appeal for higher ratings and special monthly compensation was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left wrist condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, dry mouth, and a skin condition. Several claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including right and left knee conditions, bilateral feet issues, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral metatarsalgia, and daytime hypersomnolence. The sleep disorder other than daytime hypersomnolence was remanded.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.