The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, left foot, right ankle, and left ankle conditions. The claim for service connection of left hand osteoarthritis is being remanded.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence showing a current disability or that any diagnosed condition is related to active duty.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's pre-existing pes planus (flat feet) did not permanently increase in severity during service, and the presumption of aggravation does not apply. The Board found no medical evidence demonstrating a current right foot, left foot, right ankle, or left ankle disability.,For the left hand osteoarthritis claim, there is insufficient competent evidence to establish that the Veteran has a current disability at any point during or approximate to the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Foot Condition, Left Foot Condition, Right Ankle Condition, Left Ankle Condition, Left Hand Osteoarthritis (claimed as left hand/fingers condition)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26026754
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 A26026754.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected left hip replacement.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle condition is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence received, including VA examinations and opinions that tend to prove or disprove the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cervical spine condition is denied as there was no in-service onset or chronicity.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right foot condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right fourth toe disability.
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