The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected foot and low back disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: Multiple medical opinions have supported a theory of secondary service connection based on the Veteran's diagnosed foot and low back conditions aggravating or causing his cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes cavus deformity, bilateral metatarsalgia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, ligamentous laxity with recurrent sprains of both ankles (as secondary to bilateral pes cavus deformity), bilateral knee strain (secondary to bilateral metatarsalgia), chronic muscle strain of the low back and bilateral sacroiliac joints (associated with bilateral metatarsalgia), bilateral hip arthralgia with radiculopathy (associated with bilateral metatarsalgia)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 29, 2015
- Citation
- 1554046
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 1554046.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeals regarding the evaluation of bilateral plantar fasciitis and residuals of fractures of the second, fourth, and fifth left toes, as well as the evaluation of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with loss of use, are dismissed as untimely.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and his service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus condition was aggravated by service. The effective date is August 15, 2025.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent, but not higher, has been assigned for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection has also been established for migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis in the left knee, right knee disorder (osteoarthritis), right ankle sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral flat feet, and various foot conditions.
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