{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/ankle-impairment-secondary-to-flat-feet","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:29.491Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Ankle impairment secondary to flat feet","secondary_condition":"Ankle impairment","service_connected_disability":"flat feet","decisions":332,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19,"denied_pct":14.2,"remanded_pct":66.9,"granted_on_merits_pct":57.3,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":36,"granted_pct":5.6,"denied_pct":25,"remanded_pct":66.7},{"year":2018,"issues":40,"granted_pct":17.5,"denied_pct":7.5,"remanded_pct":72.5},{"year":2019,"issues":42,"granted_pct":26.2,"denied_pct":7.1,"remanded_pct":66.7},{"year":2020,"issues":53,"granted_pct":11.3,"denied_pct":28.3,"remanded_pct":60.4},{"year":2021,"issues":46,"granted_pct":17.4,"denied_pct":15.2,"remanded_pct":67.4},{"year":2022,"issues":48,"granted_pct":25,"denied_pct":8.3,"remanded_pct":62.5},{"year":2023,"issues":51,"granted_pct":21.6,"denied_pct":11.8,"remanded_pct":64.7},{"year":2024,"issues":58,"granted_pct":12.1,"denied_pct":12.1,"remanded_pct":75.9},{"year":2025,"issues":62,"granted_pct":25.8,"denied_pct":12.9,"remanded_pct":61.3},{"year":2026,"issues":23,"granted_pct":30.4,"denied_pct":8.7,"remanded_pct":60.9}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":76.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":40,"granted_pct_with":83.3,"granted_pct_without":50},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":267,"granted_pct_with":56.1,"granted_pct_without":66.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":71,"granted_pct_with":88.9,"granted_pct_without":35.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":228,"granted_pct_with":56.7,"granted_pct_without":60},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":129,"granted_pct_with":66.7,"granted_pct_without":44.7},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":263,"granted_pct_with":53.8,"granted_pct_without":73.7}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":17},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":8},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":8}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":8},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":8},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":4},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":3},{"reason":"pes planus not service-connected","decisions":2}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26003894","year":2026,"judge":"EMILY TAMLYN","rationale":"October 2025 VA examination reflects ankylosis of left ankle, degenerative arthritis of left ankle, and bilateral ankle strain.; October 2025 medical opinion provided positive nexus stating ankle disability would be less severe and result in less functional impairment if service-connected pes planus… [truncated, 101 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26024725","year":2026,"judge":"HARVEY P. ROBERTS","rationale":"Private medical opinion found pes planus contributed to ankle injury; VA exam conflicted but lacked supporting literature; Board found private opinion highly persuasive due to rationale"},{"case_id":"26003453","year":2026,"judge":"PAULETTE VANCE BURTON","rationale":"Current disability shown by pain causing functional impairment; November 2022 VA exam opinion links pain to service-connected conditions; Service treatment records silent, but post-service and later VA exams noted ankle issues"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26038001","year":2026,"judge":"A. J. SPECTOR","rationale":"Evidence persuasively weighs against service connection; Evidence persuasively weighs against secondary connection to pes planus"},{"case_id":"25013896","year":2025,"judge":"DAVID H. ROBERTSON","rationale":"No chronic in-service symptoms; No continuity of symptomatology after service; No etiologically related to service; Not aggravated by service-connected conditions"},{"case_id":"A25081029","year":2025,"judge":"J.W. ZISSIMOS","rationale":"Service treatment records negative for ankle disorder; April 2010 medical evaluation found ankles normal; November 2022 VA exam found no current ankle disorder"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":459,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":175,"granted_pct":10.9},"causation_only":{"issues":284,"granted_pct":23.9},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":12.4,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":37,"granted_pct":37.8,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26000420","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"linked altered gait from feet disabilities to bilateral ankle pain."},{"case_id":"23058130","year":2023,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Service connection for a right ankle condition, claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus, was denied because the evidence persuasively favored the conclusion that it was less likely than not incurred in or caused by active service."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":12,"granted_pct":8.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"23065076","year":2023,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Board found a current disability due to pain and functional impairment from pronation."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}