The Veteran is service-connected for bilateral pes planus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and residuals of inguinal hernia. The combined evaluation is 50 percent. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, particularly bilateral pes planus and low back disability, significantly impair him physically. The VA examiners have opined that he is limited in his physically restricted activities due to these conditions. However, there is no indication of available sedentary jobs for a manual laborer like the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, rheumatoid arthritis (assumed from context as radiculopathy is a symptom), lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, inguinal hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18106357
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 18106357.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Appellant's requests for earlier effective dates for his service connection for bilateral pes planus and gynecomastia scar residuals, finding that the earliest possible effective dates are the dates of receipt of the claims.
- Denied
The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and anxiety were all denied as service connection was not established based on the evidence of record.,Bilateral pes planus was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.
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