The Veteran's right foot pes planus and arthritis are service-connected, while her plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, calcaneal spurs, and bunions are not. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance regarding whether these additional conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion supports a finding of at least as likely as not (nearly equal likelihood) that the Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, calcaneal spurs, and bunions are related to her service-connected pes planus and arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Foot Pes Planus, Right Foot Arthritis, Plantar Fasciitis, Hallux Valgus, Calcaneal Spurs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23061893
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 23061893.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the PTSD with cannabis use disorder, mild issue is dismissed. The initial rating for plantar fasciitis remains at 10 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's right foot pes planus was restored to a 10 percent rating effective July 1, 2020. The evidence did not show actual improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence in the file on which to decide these claims. The appellant's VA treatment records contain diagnoses of GAD and OSA, and he reported symptoms related to his disabilities during service. A new examination and opinion are required to determine if the acquired psychiatric disorder is associated with service, as well as for OSA and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for plantar fasciitis was denied. The effective date remains November 30, 2023, as it is based on the date he submitted his intent to file a claim.
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