The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there is no competent and credible evidence linking his current low back disorder to any aspect of his period of service. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current low back disorder is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.
The deciding factor: The February 2013 VA examiner opined that there is no clear connection between the Veteran's flat feet and his back disability, based on medical literature not suggesting such a link and considering the commonness of pes planus problems.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder (degenerative arthritis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2013
- Citation
- 1336377
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1336377.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for all claimed hip, foot, and low back disorders as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated in service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, foot, and low back disorders due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and denied entitlement to TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected left leg and knee disabilities. The Board found that there was no link between the Veteran’s current low back disorder and his active service or any service-connected disability, including his left leg and knee disabilities.
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