The Board remands the issues of an evaluation higher than 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as service connection for a lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), to correct the AOJ's error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.
The deciding factor: The January 2025 VA nexus opinion is found to be inadequate due to insufficient rationale, and a remand is required for a new opinion consistent with the remand directives.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25103967
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 931 · Granted: 42% (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 A25103967.
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 claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left ankle disability (secondary to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities), bilateral hip disability (secondary to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities), heart disability, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, which require assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring, housekeeping, and meal preparation.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.
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