The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral flat feet and denied reopening of his claim for service connection for laceration of the left heel. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as there was no current disability that met the specified severity requirements. For the laceration claim, the evidence did not show treatment or diagnosis related to the claimed injury during service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's flat feet were found to be noncompensably disabling based on lack of symptoms meeting specific criteria for a compensable rating. The left heel laceration claim was denied as there was no medical evidence showing it occurred in service and thus not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flat feet, laceration of the left heel
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2008
- Citation
- 0821501
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 0821501.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ committed pre-decisional duty to assist errors by not assisting the Veteran to identify and obtain relevant treatment records regarding his bilateral flat feet and for relying on an inadequate addendum opinion. The case is therefore REMANDED for these actions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral flat feet and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.
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