The Board found that the Veteran's current flat feet disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during service and there was no evidence of aggravation by a service-connected condition. The Board concluded that the Veteran's pes planus, while congenital in nature, does not qualify for secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: The preexisting pes planus was found to be congenital rather than acquired, and thus did not meet the criteria for direct service connection as it is a congenital disease. The Board also determined that there was no evidence of aggravation by a service-connected condition, leading to denial of both direct and secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- flat feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 12, 2011
- Citation
- 1133781
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 1133781.
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 Veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, unspecified anxiety disorder, and bottom lip scar.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions including back pain, flat feet, impaired eyesight, joint pain, neck pain, and sleep apnea.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and radiculopathy right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), right shoulder condition, and flat feet. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Granted
The Veteran's flat feet and hemorrhoids are granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).,However, service connection for CFS is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.