BVA decisions by condition
Tarsal tunnel syndrome: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a tarsal tunnel syndrome issue in 636 decisions. It granted the tarsal tunnel syndrome issue in 17.9% of them, close to the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 28.5%, and remanded it in 52.8%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 38.6% were granted.
Decisions
636
2017–2026
Granted
17.9%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
38.6%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
52.8%
Denied: 28.5%
Tarsal tunnel syndrome outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 95 | 8.4% | 31.6% | 57.9% | 2.1% |
| 2020 | 108 | 18.5% | 29.6% | 51.9% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 85 | 21.2% | 22.4% | 55.3% | 1.2% |
| 2022 | 83 | 19.3% | 18.1% | 59.0% | 3.6% |
| 2023 | 117 | 14.5% | 27.4% | 58.1% | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 133 | 13.5% | 27.8% | 56.4% | 2.3% |
| 2025 | 127 | 22.0% | 36.2% | 39.4% | 2.4% |
| 2026 | 53 | 24.5% | 37.7% | 34.0% | 3.8% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied tarsal tunnel syndrome decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the tarsal tunnel syndrome issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 114 | 82.7% | 23.6% | +59.0 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 79 | 68.9% | 30.8% | +38.1 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 99 | 60.4% | 34.4% | +26.0 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 191 | 50.5% | 32.3% | +18.2 pts |
| Lay statement | 529 | 39.0% | 36.6% | +2.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 73.7% of the decisions that granted tarsal tunnel syndrome.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 45.6% of grants and 16.6% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often tarsal tunnel syndrome was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 342 | 40.3% | 36.1% | +4.2 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 473 | 37.1% | 45.5% | −8.4 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied tarsal tunnel syndrome
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established26
- Caused by the service-connected disability7
- Continuity of symptoms since service3
- In-service injury documented2
- Continuity of symptomatology since service2
Most common reasons in denials
- No current diagnosis43
- Current diagnosis established25
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis18
- Service records negative or silent18
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service16
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim14
- No nexus to service established2
- Evidence weighs against service connection2
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent tarsal tunnel syndrome decisions
Granted
Current diagnosis of chronic bilateral shin splints; Service treatment records show complaints and treatment during service; Evidence at least evenly balanced regarding in-service onset; Reasonable doubt resolved in Veteran's favor
Current disability documented by VA exam and private DBQ; In-service incurrence established by STRs noting anterior tibia pain/shin splints; Nexus established by private opinion and STRs, resolving doubt in Veteran's favor
Current diagnoses noted in VA exams; Lay evidence supports onset during service; Missing service records from honorable period, doubt resolved in favor
Denied
No current diagnosis of right ankle tarsal tunnel syndrome.; Veteran denied pain and functional loss at examination.; STRs noted possible tarsal tunnel syndrome, but current diagnosis is required.
No current diagnosis of shin splints; No supporting medical evidence; VA examiner diagnosed bilateral knee strain; Private records lack diagnosis/treatment
No competent medical evidence of current diagnosis; Veteran testified to experiencing condition but sought no treatment; No current diagnosis
Rules that apply to tarsal tunnel syndrome claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your tarsal tunnel syndrome case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a tarsal tunnel syndrome issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.