The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion and the need for additional development, including a new examination.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's right foot condition pre-existed service or was aggravated by service. The Veteran needs further medical evaluation to determine if his current conditions are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right foot, Achilles peritendinitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23002054
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 23002054.
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 claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right ankle, knee, thumb, little finger, index finger, long finger disabilities, scars, and PTSD have been dismissed.,No new or material evidence was received within one year of the notice of decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right foot disability, including consideration of bilateral pes planus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right foot disability to obtain outstanding physical therapy records and a new VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right and left foot, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left shoulder strain, left elbow strain, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities. However, it denied service connection for a respiratory disability, an eye disability, and a gynecological disability.
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