The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its April 2018 remand directives and another remand is required. The AOJ needs to take appropriate action to develop the referred issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for pes planus and entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the feet, as these are inextricably intertwined with the issue currently on appeal.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not substantial compliance with its April 2018 remand directives due to the AOJ's failure to develop the referred issues and obtain VA treatment records. Additionally, a new medical opinion is needed to determine whether the Veteran’s diagnosed peripheral neuropathy is directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected tinea pedis.
- Claimed conditions
- nerve damage of the feet, pes planus, degenerative joint disease of the feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18135251
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 18135251.
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 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 Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, finding that her current condition had its onset during active military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was dismissed because he filed a supplemental claim after the AOJ had already addressed his initial denial, violating the AMA rule against concurrent jurisdiction.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for pes planus with plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated during active service and his bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to his service.
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