The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus (flat feet) due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's preexisting condition worsened during service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a need to correct a duty-to-assist error by obtaining a medical examination and opinion addressing the nature of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including whether his preexisting pes planus was aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus (flat feet)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 13, 2026
- Citation
- A26033769
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 A26033769.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus (flat feet) as there was no evidence of aggravation during service, and thus his pre-existing condition could not be considered aggravated by military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's flat feet were aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of TBI was denied. The effective date remains at May 12, 2022.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and a skin disability, to include pseudofolliculitis barbae, require additional development due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus (flat feet) is granted.
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.