The veteran's lumbar spine DJD was rated at 10% before November 8, 2000 and increased to 20% after that date. His thoracic spine DJD remains at 10%. The bilateral pes planus condition is rated at 30%.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lumbar spine DJD was found to have severe limitation of motion with pain on motion, warranting a higher rating from November 8, 2000. His thoracic spine DJD and bilateral pes planus were already rated appropriately under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral pes planus, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine with short left leg and lowered left pelvis, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2003
- Citation
- 0307790
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 0307790.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus and remanded the claims for service connection for tingling and numbness in the bilateral lower extremities and entitlement to TDIU.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period from May 25, 2016 to January 18, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right foot hallux valgus from January 9, 2024, and denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for pes planus from July 27, 2023. A 20 percent rating was assigned prior to April 26, 2019, for the Veteran's right compartment syndrome with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, right foot drop, and right shin splint.
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