The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with arthritis and pes cavus due to inadequate reasons or bases in previous determinations, as well as failure to differentiate symptoms caused by each service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA examinations did not adequately differentiate symptoms and functional impairment between the service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with arthritis and pes cavus, leading to potential pyramiding of ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis with Arthritis, Pes Cavus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21029597
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 21029597.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, including plantar fasciitis, pes planus, pes cavus, and sesamoiditis, do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating prior to September 6, 2023.,From September 6, 2023, the Veteran is rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent for his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, pes cavus, and sesamoiditis.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes cavus residuals have been granted staged ratings. Bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 10% from June 29, 2014 to February 20, 2021, and at 30% since November 13, 2019.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in an August 2013 VA examiner's opinion and a need for clarification on pre-existing condition allegations. The Veteran is required to undergo a new examination and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed foot disorders.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since May 2, 2012. He also received a TDIU effective from May 2, 2012.,The decision grants the Veteran a higher rating for his PTSD and confirms he is eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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