The Board remands the appeal for a VA examination to address the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis, specifically to ensure that the examiner considers and discounts the beneficial effects of medication when evaluating musculoskeletal disabilities.
The deciding factor: A recent decision by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims requires examiners to expressly consider and discount the beneficial effects of medication when evaluating musculoskeletal disabilities, which was not done in the previous examination.
- Claimed conditions
- pes planus with plantar fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25044240
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,077 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25044240.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot and ankle disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion to determine the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and right ankle disability are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is also granted as service-connected.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica as secondary to lumbosacral strain, and for lumbosacral strain. Service connection was denied for sinusitis. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded for the AOJ to provide notice of the right to a pre-decisional hearing.
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.