The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left foot disability, service connection for right heel and respiratory disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.
The deciding factor: The appeal is being remanded because there are missing personnel records from the Veteran's reserve service period and a new examination is needed to differentiate between hallux valgus and metatarsalgia diagnoses in his left foot disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Foot Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23037661
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 23037661.
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 wife has been providing regular care and assistance to the Veteran since February 13, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants an effective date of February 13, 2017 for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right hip, left knee, and left foot disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are consistent with his reported symptoms during service and a continuity of symptomatology since service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including a TBI and related headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left foot injuries are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, reflecting moderate impairment. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.