The Veteran's bunions are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate previous examination and the need for additional medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.,The Veteran's unspecified chronic virus, including Lyme Disease and/or Epstein-Barr virus, is being remanded as there are conflicting opinions on its etiology and potential radiation exposure link.,The Veteran's neurological eye disability, specifically Fuch's dystrophy, is being remanded for a supplemental VA medical opinion to address the relationship between her service and these conditions.,The Veteran's sciatica is being remanded due to inadequate previous examination and need for additional medical opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's respiratory disability, including asthma, is being remanded as there are conflicting opinions on its etiology and potential radiation exposure link.,The Veteran's lower extremity stress fracture residuals are being remanded for a supplemental VA medical opinion to determine the presence of such residuals.
The deciding factor: A new VA examination is needed due to previous examinations not providing sufficient information regarding the nature and etiology of the bunions.,An inadequate VA examination was conducted, which did not address the Veteran's in-service complaints and current diagnosis. A supplemental medical opinion is necessary.,The prior examiner failed to consider the Veteran's lay testimony about her Lyme disease history and its relationship to service. Additional medical comment is needed.,The previous examiner did not provide a rationale for their conclusion regarding Fuch's dystrophy, nor addressed whether cataracts were related to service. A supplemental VA medical opinion is necessary.,The February 2020 VA examiner did not address the etiology of the Veteran's sciatica and its relationship to her in-service complaints and radiation exposure. Additional medical comment is needed.,There are conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's asthma resulted from service or environmental exposures. A supplemental VA medical opinion is necessary.,The March 2020 VA examiner did not address the presence of lower extremity stress fracture residuals. A supplemental VA medical opinion is necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- bunions, left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), chronic virus (Lyme Disease and/or Epstein-Barr virus), neurological eye disability (Fuch's dystrophy, bilateral cataracts, dermatochalasis), sciatica, respiratory disability (asthma), lower extremity stress fracture residuals
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21070395
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 21070395.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified issues for remand related to service connection claims and effective date determinations. The appellant's appeal includes multiple conditions, including a headache disability, left ankle and foot disabilities, low back disability, knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Board is directed to address the issues of service connection for these conditions and determine appropriate effective dates.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding her service-connected depression. She needs an examination to assess the impact of her depression on her ability to work.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity disabilities, including sciatica, are granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected back disability. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has been unable to secure or follow gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain a current medical examination for the Veteran's lumbar strain. The claim is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of the severity of the condition, including any associated radiculopathy.
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