The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including metatarsalgia (claimed as closed fracture of the calcaneus), plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and degenerative joint disease of the great toes. The decision is based on credible lay evidence and medical opinions supporting the Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding the onset of foot pain during service and its persistence thereafter were both competent and credible, supported by his sisters' observations of ongoing issues after separation. The opinion from a private physician also attributed the Veteran's foot strain to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- metatarsalgia, closed fracture of the calcaneus, plantar fasciitis, pes planus, degenerative joint disease of the great toes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26015891
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 A26015891.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus condition was aggravated by service. The effective date is August 15, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for athletes' foot, low back strain, and plantar fasciitis due to a lack of a VA examination prior to the August 2020 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, finding that her current condition had its onset during active military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.
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