The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability rating for service-connected bilateral flat feet is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal increased rating claim prior to May 15, 2007.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim for an earlier effective date before May 15, 2007, and there was no indication of intent to do so. The increase in disability rating occurred after this period.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flat feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2018
- Citation
- 1816655
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 1816655.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ committed pre-decisional duty to assist errors by not assisting the Veteran to identify and obtain relevant treatment records regarding his bilateral flat feet and for relying on an inadequate addendum opinion. The case is therefore REMANDED for these actions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral flat feet and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.
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