The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus increased in severity during service and if it was clearly and unmistakably due to the natural progression of the disease. The examiner must also address whether the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle condition.
The deciding factor: The Board requires a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus and its relationship to service, specifically addressing whether it increased in severity during service and if it was clearly and unmistakably due to the natural progression of the disease.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral foot condition, pes planus
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19191752
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 19191752.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back, right ring finger, and left foot hallux valgus disabilities but granted an initial 30 percent rating for pes planus from August 17, 2021, a 50 percent rating for pes planus from December 15, 2023, and a separate 10 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis from August 17, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a back condition, numbness left upper extremity, allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot condition, BHL, ED, insomnia, and sinusitis. The only granted issue was service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left foot disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate October 2024 VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for a back condition, left leg condition, and bilateral foot condition due to errors in the previous decision.
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