The Board has determined that there is a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the case and requires a VA examination or addendum opinion to cure the error. The Veteran's flatfoot disability was evaluated at a January 2021 VA examination, but the examiner did not consider the lay and medical evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner ignored the Veteran's lay statements and December 2020 private examiner's statements when formulating the negative nexus opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus (flatfoot)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24072655
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 734 · Granted: 31% (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 A24072655.
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.
- Granted
The April 24, 1995, Rating Decision was reversed and service connection for coccyx disability is granted. Other motions for revision of the April 24, 1995, Rating Decision were denied or remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted a rating of 30 percent from February 5, 2019. The right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus (flatfoot) and remanded the claim for a right knee disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus.
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.