The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for flat feet (pes planus). The Veteran's account of his condition is consistent with clinical findings, but the examiner did not adequately address secondary service connection through aggravation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to provide an adequate opinion on whether the Veteran's flat feet was proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- flat feet (pes planus)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2023
- Citation
- 23027299
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 23027299.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for flat feet, hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and hallux valgus, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition aggravated by military service. The Board also found that the current disabilities were not related to service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for flat feet (pes planus) and denied service connection for an eye disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis and flat feet (pes planus) has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that is relevant to his claims.
- Dismissed
Your claim for service connection for flat feet (pes planus) has been granted, and you are now receiving a 30% rating effective July 20, 2017. This issue is no longer in appellate status.
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