The Board has determined that updated medical records and new examinations are necessary to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected foot disorders, as his current treatment records date back to 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the Veteran may have experienced worsening of his other foot disorders due to a recent diagnosis of bilateral pes planus, necessitating updated medical records and examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- hammertoes (2nd-5th toes) of the left foot, hammertoes (2nd-5th toes) of the right foot, hallux rigidus of the left foot, hallux rigidus of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23060822
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 23060822.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the diagnosis of additional foot conditions and the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for his foot disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus, hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, hallux rigidus of the right foot, and hallux valgus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as his right foot conditions (Morton's neuroma and hallux rigidus), are being remanded for additional development including VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's claimed foot disabilities are inadequate and remands these issues due to the examiner's use of an incorrect standard in his rationale regarding aggravation, as well as his failure to provide a clear explanation for his opinion.
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