The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his left foot condition, service connection for right foot pes planus, and service connection for knee disabilities and low back DDD as secondary to his service-connected left foot disorder. The evidence did not establish chronicity or a nexus between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's right foot pes planus was not incurred in or aggravated by service due to lack of documentation during service, and no continuity of symptomatology after discharge. Knee disabilities were also not shown to be related to service as there was no chronicity demonstrated. Low back DDD was not linked to service as it did not manifest within one year of separation and the examiner opined that it was part of normal aging process.
- Claimed conditions
- Left foot tender plantar calluses, pes planus, plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, Right foot pes planus, Knee disabilities (including arthritis), Low back degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2003
- Citation
- 0319157
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0319157.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent prior to September 8, 2020 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right foot pes planus with chronic pain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and a compensable rating, as there was no evidence of an informal or formal claim prior to September 27, 2022.
- Whole decision: Granted
The appeal concerning the proposed reduction of rating for major depressive disorder was dismissed, and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.
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