The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine strain were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for left posterior tibialis tendonitis, rated at 10% prior to October 24, 2007, and at 20% thereafter; right posterior tibialis tendonitis, also rated at 10% prior to March 27, 2009, and at 20% thereafter; and bilateral plantar fasciitis, each rated at 10%. The claims were denied as the conditions are not related to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no evidence that the Veteran's foot conditions caused his cervical or lumbar spine problems. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's symptoms were minor and did not require a cane, indicating normal gait without self-limitation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Cervical spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2010
- Citation
- 1000172
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 1000172.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding a positive nexus to the Veteran's active duty service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal of proposed rating reductions for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, left lower extremity, due to procedural defects in the Veteran's notice of disagreement. The issue regarding a compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.
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