The Board has remanded the claims for pes planus/flat feet, bilateral Achilles tendonitis, bilateral hammertoes, and calluses of the bilateral feet due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service treatment records show foot complaints in service, but there is uncertainty about whether any increase in severity during service was due to natural progression or service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical opinions were inadequate and remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the pes planus/flat feet disability. The claims for bilateral hammertoes, Achilles tendonitis, and calluses of the bilateral feet are also remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- Pes planus/flat feet, Bilateral Achilles tendonitis, Bilateral Hammertoes, Calluses of the bilateral feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2024
- Citation
- A24071587
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,081 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24071587.
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 has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for calluses of the bilateral feet and residuals of a repaired right inguinal hernia due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 14, 1992, and compensable disability ratings for his service-connected hammertoes are remanded due to the need for additional development. The Board also directed the RO to obtain a medical opinion regarding when the Veteran's bilateral hammertoe began.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral Achilles tendonitis was caused by VA treatment in February 2017, specifically the prescription of Levaquin (levofloxacin), which resulted from a provider error. The Board has granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral bunions, and bilateral hammertoes should be remanded due to a lack of medical examination.
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.