Citation Nr: 20007618 Decision Date: 01/30/20 Archive Date: 01/29/20 DOCKET NO. 17-59 887 DATE: January 30, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right toe condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right foot condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from December 1978 to December 1981. This appeal comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a January 2015 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida. In November 2019, the Veteran testified at a travel hearing in the St. Petersburg RO before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is available in the record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a right toe condition is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a right foot condition is remanded. The Veteran has claimed entitlement to service connection for a right toe condition and a right foot condition. At his hearing in November 2019, the Veteran contended that the two claims were related. The Board will therefore discuss the claims together. In December 2014, the Veteran underwent a VA examination for cold injury residuals. The examiner found that the evidence of record did not show that the Veteran had ever been diagnosed with a cold injury. The examiner noted, however, that the Veteran had a toenail fungal infection in both his great toes and the 2nd and 3rd toenails of his left foot. The examination report did not contain any statement regarding the origin of the Veteran’s toe fungal infections, and rather noted only that the Veteran’s condition did not reflect a cold weather injury. See December 2014 C&P Exam. The Veteran has provided a private medical treatment record from July 2018, which diagnosed onychomycosis, and chronic traumatic onychodystrophy of the right hallux, or great toe. The private records did not provide a statement regarding the origin of the Veteran’s diagnosed conditions. See September 2018 Medical Treatment Record – Non-Government Facility. The Veteran’s service treatment records show that he complained of pain or numbness in his toes on at least three occasions during his military service, both during training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and during a later assignment in Germany. However, the medical records do not diagnose a fungal infection. See November 2019 STR – Medical – Photocopy. The Board finds that further development is necessary before it can reach a decision in the case. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed toe and foot conditions, to include onychomycosis and chronic traumatic onychodystrophy. The examiner should review the Veteran’s claim file, including his lay statements regarding the history of his foot and toe conditions, and answer the following question: Are the Veteran’s foot and toe conditions, to include onychomycosis and chronic traumatic onychodystrophy, at least as likely as not (probability of 50 percent or greater) etiologically related to the Veteran’s active military service? The examiner should address the reports of toe pain and numbness in the Veteran’s service treatment records from January 1979, and multiple treatments for complaints related to the toes and feet in March 1981. The examiner’s attention is also invited to the private medical records from July 2018, which diagnosed onychomycosis, and chronic traumatic onychodystrophy of the right hallux. K. J. ALIBRANDO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Hermsdorfer, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.