The Veteran's service connection claims for left foot degenerative arthritis and back lumbar DDD have been granted.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.
The deciding factor: The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left foot and back disabilities are related to service, granting service connection on a direct basis.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot degenerative arthritis, back lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2026
- Citation
- A26000944
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 A26000944.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, and the claims are dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, and left foot post-surgical scar due to an error in failing to provide notice of the right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for additional evidence. The Veteran's left foot disability, excluding plantar fasciitis, is being evaluated further.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left and right foot hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.
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