The Board has decided that the Veteran's left foot disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a pre-existing condition. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence regarding whether any of the Veteran's foot disabilities were clearly and unmistakably preexisting military service, necessitating further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot disorder, fracture of the left great toe, bilateral hallux valgus, left foot hallux rigidus, left foot arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2022
- Citation
- 22049530
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 22049530.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left foot hallux rigidus was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating due to moderate symptoms and no actual loss of use.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (anxiety, depression, insomnia) is remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine its etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for rating purposes and thus remands the case to obtain a new examination. The issues include determining whether bilateral hallux valgus and/or acquired pes cavus are secondary to sesamoiditis, whether there is a neurological disability of the right great toe, and whether there was a period of convalescence following the July 2022 sesamoidectomy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, and back disorders. The underlying merits of these claims must be addressed by the AOJ.
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