The Board has determined that the Veteran's September 2010 claims for service connection of a left foot and left heel disability represent a petition to reopen his previously denied claim. The evidence submitted since the time of the January 2007 rating decision is both 'new' and 'material'. However, the criteria for reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability have not been met.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided an opinion that the Veteran's claimed conditions are less likely than not incurred in or caused by his in-service injury, based on the absence of any treatment records indicating ongoing issues related to the in-service event and the presence of new diagnoses unrelated to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Foot Disability, Left Heel Disability, Achilles Tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1705052
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 1705052.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for erectile dysfunction and voiding dysfunction have been denied due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his in-service exposure.,The remaining service connection claims (for bilateral feet, ankles, hip, wrist, cervical spine, upper extremity radiculopathy, psychiatric disorder, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension) are remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his left and right foot disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The appeals for increased ratings have been denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to new evidence not being relevant to these issues.
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