The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present bilateral lower extremity lymphedema or edema. The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are not entitled to higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the December 2017 VA examination was inadequate for adjudication purposes, particularly in relation to the Veteran's post-surgical edema of the feet and her service-connected postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome. The examiner did not consider these factors or provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current lymphedema is related to her active service or secondary to her service-connected breast condition.
- Claimed conditions
- right hallux valgus status postsurgery with hallux rigidus and hammertoes of left second, third, fourth, and little toes, left hallux valgus status postsurgery with hallux rigidus and hammertoes of left second, third, fourth, and little toes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22071195
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 22071195.
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
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- Granted
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