The Board has decided to remand two claims for service connection for neuropathy of the left and right feet due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with additional evidence and a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically failing to obtain treatment records from Pioneers Medical Center and the inadequacy of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- neuropathy of the left foot, neuropathy of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2026
- Citation
- A26002945
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 A26002945.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia of both feet, plantar fasciitis of both feet, and neuropathy of both feet have been granted effective July 14, 2014. The Veteran also received a separate rating for hammertoes of the right foot (10%) and left foot (10%), as well as arthritis of the first MTP joint of the right and left foot (10%).
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.,Service connection for OSA and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied, with no evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for neuropathy of the right and left feet due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for neuropathy of the right foot to obtain an adequate examination and opinion, as the previous VA examination was found inadequate.
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