The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet. The right arm disorder claim is remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right arm disorder may be related to his service-connected cervical spine disorder or shoulder strain, but further clarification is needed regarding its etiology and relationship to these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral flat feet, Right arm disorder (including right elbow pain causing functional loss)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21009985
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 21009985.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting an effective date of January 8, 2014 for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection and DEA benefits, as they were not properly before the Board. The issues related to increased ratings and TDIU/Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) are remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, lumbosacral strain (secondary to service-connected knee and ankle disabilities), hypertension, diabetes, and bilateral hands arthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, erectile dysfunction (ED), and bilateral flat feet as the evidence did not support a medical nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active duty.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.