The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left foot condition, including pes planus and a calcaneal fracture, is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee. The Veteran needs an updated VA examination and a new opinion on this issue.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical opinions did not adequately address whether the Veteran's left foot condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee condition, specifically due to inadequate discussion of aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- left heel condition, pes planus, left calcaneus fracture
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21015701
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 21015701.
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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