The Veteran's left toe scar is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but the issue of a compensable rating for his left fourth toe arthroplasty is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence or argument to warrant a higher rating for his left toe scar and the current evidence does not support such a rating. The left fourth toe arthroplasty issue requires additional evaluation as there are no recent VA examinations available to assess the current severity of the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left toe scar, left fourth toe arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23043579
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 23043579.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right and left foot pes planus, metatarsalgia, and plantar fasciitis, an effective date of April 22, 2020, for the grant of service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a TDIU. However, it denied higher ratings for bilateral cavus and compensable disability ratings for scars.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the request for her Social Security Administration (SSA) records.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is granted. The right ear hearing loss and the left toe scar claims are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinnitus is not service-connected as it did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran’s bilateral pes planus does not warrant a compensable rating as her symptoms are relieved by orthotic inserts.
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