The Board denied service connection for flatfeet and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the veteran's claim for higher ratings on these disabilities remains pending.
The deciding factor: There is no competent evidence showing that the current flatfeet are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- flatfeet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2007
- Citation
- 0700157
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 0700157.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot dermatophytosis, tinea pedis, onychomycosis and eczema and flatfeet on an aggravation basis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding service connection for flatfeet. The Veteran's pre-existing condition of asymptomatic mild pes planus was noted prior to service entrance, and he received arch supports in August 1988 during active service. The examiner is required to determine if there was an increase in severity of the flatfeet during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine if his current neck disorder, left arm disorder, flatfeet, and shin splints are related to service. The issues of secondary service connection for the left arm disorder and new and material evidence for the shin splints have also been addressed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) from his initial tour of active duty in the United States Army are incomplete. The claims for headaches, left knee disability, and flatfeet have been remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need to obtain STRs.
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