The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right foot, right knee, right ankle, and left toe disorders and her service-connected avascular necrosis of the hip.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not provide adequate opinions on whether the Veteran's disorders are caused or aggravated by her service-connected avascular necrosis.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot bunions removal surgery, right knee surgery, right ankle fracture, left foot fractures, left foot big toe joint replacement
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23057039
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23057039.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, which grants entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at a housebound rate is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle fracture and post-traumatic arthritis and arthroplasty, effective August 18, 2025. The Board found that the pre-existing condition was aggravated by active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC higher than the (l) + (1/2) rate due to lack of anatomical loss or use of extremities, blindness, or permanent bedridden status.
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