The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral foot disability is granted. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether his current bilateral foot disability is related to documented complaints during service, and resolves any reasonable doubt in his favor.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions are conflicting regarding whether the Veteran’s current bilateral foot disability was caused by or permanently aggravated by his service. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19126708
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,506 · Granted: 43% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19126708.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion on direct service connection for the Veteran's bilateral foot condition. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the condition manifested during service or is otherwise related to active service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left hallux valgus, as well as the denial of a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis, were decided. The appeal was also granted for service connection for right leg pain, left leg pain, right ankle condition (also claimed as Achilles tendon), and left ankle condition (also claimed as Achilles tendon).
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's tarsal tunnel syndrome, pes planus with degenerative arthritis, and hallux valgus, as well as service connection for various disorders.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to render him unable to physically care for himself, thereby granting special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
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