The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral flatfoot, left hammer toe, and right hammer toe due to duty-to-assist errors.
The deciding factor: VA failed to consider all relevant evidence in rendering its opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's foot disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Flatfoot, Left Hammer Toe, Right Hammer Toe
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26003990
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 A26003990.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral flatfoot, right knee bursitis, left knee bursitis, migraine headaches, and tinea pedis. However, it denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral flatfoot, and migraine headaches have been granted initial ratings of 50%, 10%, and noncompensable respectively, all effective February 1, 2021.,These decisions are based on the severity of the disabilities as evidenced by new medical evidence submitted within one year of the June 2021 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is not rated compensably, as the affected area does not exceed 5% of total body or exposed areas.,There is no evidence of bilateral flatfoot during service or at any time since service. Service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's migraine headaches and left ankle disability are remanded as the VA examinations were not conducted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, which was an acute myocardial infarction.
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