The Board remanded all issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, right and left shoulder disorders, bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), and a bunion on the left foot. The Veteran's lay statements were not adequately addressed in previous examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA examination addendum opinions did not comply with the remand directives, particularly in addressing the Veteran's lay statements.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), bunion on the left foot
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2025
- Citation
- 25001439
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, headache disorder, erectile dysfunction, left earache disorder, chronic fatigue, right shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, right foot disorder, GERD, and left shoulder disorder, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis effective February 1, 2023.
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