The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left foot conditions, including arthritis and strain. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional service records and seek an opinion from a clinician specializing in orthopedics or podiatry.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was inadequate as it did not address all diagnosed left foot conditions and failed to consider the Veteran's lay reports about symptom onset and progression.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot arthritis, left foot strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23059797
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 23059797.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed all other appeals related to various joint conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain, left shoulder tendonitis, and left foot arthritis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral foot, hand, and hip conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's inability to take NSAIDs due to his service-connected kidney removal.
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