The Board denied service connection for a heel spur in the right foot and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found clear and unmistakable evidence showing that any pre-existing heel spur existed prior to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Appellant's right heel spur did not occur during service and was likely present before enlistment, thus rebutting the presumption of soundness. For PTSD, the Board noted the absence of a verified in-service stressor related to sexual assault, as no evidence could be found from sources other than the appellant’s service records.
- Claimed conditions
- heel spur, right foot, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 29, 2010
- Citation
- 1028405
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 1028405.
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
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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