The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the February 2020 VA examiner regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection. The Veteran also has a spine disability, major depressive disorder, bilateral foot disabilities (plantar fasciitis of both feet and acquired pes cavus), and is seeking increased ratings for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The opinions from the February 2020 VA examiner were inadequate for rating purposes as they did not consider the Veteran's medical history or address the May 2012 opinion from his VA provider indicating a nexus between the current disability and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Spine disability, Major depressive disorder, Plantar fasciitis of the right foot, Plantar fasciitis of the left foot, Bilateral acquired pes cavus (previously rated as plantar fasciitis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21072611
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21072611.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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