The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively, for arthritis of the left and right great toes due to an inadequate VA examination report.
The deciding factor: The October 2023 VA examination report is found to be inadequate as it does not address when symptoms first manifested or progressed, discuss prior medical evidence, and provide a clear rationale for its findings.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the left great toe, arthritis of the right great toe
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2024
- Citation
- 24000628
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 remands the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a left foot disability, to obtain additional medical opinions addressing direct service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, arthritis of the right great toe, and bone spur of the right foot due to an inadequate medical opinion that failed to consider the Veteran's self-reported history.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's increased rating claims for additional development, specifically to afford him a VA medical examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, residuals of left and right inguinal hernia repair, and a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain from July 2, 2013. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and arthritis were denied.
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