The Veteran's bilateral plantar calluses and pes planus with left foot Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia were granted a rating of 30 percent prior to December 20, 2019.,From December 20, 2019 to July 4, 2021, the Veteran's condition was rated at 30 percent. From July 5, 2021 onwards, a rating of 50 percent was granted for bilateral plantar calluses and pes planus with left foot Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia.,Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for epididymitis is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms prior to December 20, 2019 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5276. From December 20, 2019 to July 4, 2021, his condition met the criteria for a 30 percent rating as there was no improvement with orthopedic shoes or appliances.,From July 5, 2021 onwards, the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated those of pronounced bilateral plantar calluses and pes planus with left foot Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia, warranting a 50 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.,The remand for epididymitis indicates that further development is needed to determine the appropriate rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral plantar calluses, Pes planus with left foot Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21075888
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 21075888.
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 matters of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, a compensable rating for bilateral plantar calluses, and the appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of cold injury to the feet due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations and other circumstances.
- Partly granted
The Board has decided that a separate 10 percent rating for left inguinal hernia scar from July 21, 1981 is granted. A rating higher than 10 percent for left inguinal hernia scar is denied. A 10 percent disability rating for service-connected left inguinal hernia from March 24, 2006 is granted. The Board has also decided that the Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected left inguinal hernia from March 8, 1976 and a higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral plantar calluses are both remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.