The Board found that the veteran's spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 with spina bifida occulta and bilateral pes cavus were congenital defects that pre-existed his military service, and there was no evidence of additional disability due to aggravation during service.
The deciding factor: The competent medical evidence clearly and unmistakably established the veteran had no additional disability from a permanent worsening of these pre-existing conditions during service by superimposed disease or injury.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 with spina bifida occulta, bilateral pes cavus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2008
- Citation
- 0816930
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for xerosis of the bilateral feet and service connection for left pectoralis muscle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, bilateral pes cavus, and plantar fasciitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for several conditions, granted service connection for a left shoulder strain and an initial rating of 100 percent for right knee instability s/p ACL reconstruction, and remanded claims related to adjustment disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes cavus, left wrist tenosynovitis, neck sprain with cervicalgia and cervical spondylosis, nasal turbinate hypertrophy, and seborrheic dermatitis, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis of the nails.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 16, 1999, for service connection for foot conditions and lupus.
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