The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected conditions, while limiting, are not so severe as to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, chronic low back pain, chronic thoracic strain, left foot pes planus, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), fungal infections of the feet and ankles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 29, 2001
- Citation
- 0117397
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 0117397.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, remanded claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), a mental health condition, and increased ratings for the Veteran's knee strain and scoliosis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic low back pain, upper back pain, right hand disability, left hand disability, headaches, and right knee disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 15, 2022, for a 10 percent maximum initial rating for service-connected right foot metatarsalgia and granted service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus.
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