The Board has remanded the case for an opinion clarifying the etiology of various foot conditions in relation to service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, including whether they are aggravated by or proximately caused by this condition.
The deciding factor: The examiner is asked to address the etiology and aggravation of specific foot conditions related to the service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, right hindfoot valgus, bilateral gastrocnemius equinus, bilateral tarsal coalition, bilateral hallux limitus, bilateral posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction, talar, ptosis, peritalar subluxation, increased calcaneal declination
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20072388
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and earlier effective date based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis to obtain an opinion that addresses the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating to 50 percent for the Veteran's bilateral foot condition from February 25, 2020 to January 10, 2022, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent and 50 percent at other times.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and lumbar strain, as the earliest pending claims were filed on July 20, 2009.
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