The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for right and left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome due to a duty to assist error. The VA examiners are instructed to provide an opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome without considering the ameliorative effects of medication used.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA examiners did not consider the severity of the Veteran's bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome without the ameliorative effects of medication, leading to a duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot tarsal tunnel syndrome, left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2026
- Citation
- A26037550
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 A26037550.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for right foot tarsal tunnel syndrome with right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 10 percent or left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome with left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and ratings in excess of 30 percent and 20 percent respectively for right rotator cuff tendinitis, AC joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease, and left rotator cuff tendinitis, AC joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the veteran's right and left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia. The decision was based on the evidence showing that the veteran's current foot pain is related to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only, as they do not involve physical loss or permanent loss of use of hands or feet.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome of the feet, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected pes planus.
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