The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during active duty.,Service connection was also denied for back disability and bilateral knee disability, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition. Headache disability claims were also denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, back disability, bilateral knee disability, headache disability
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19130100
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claim for a bilateral knee disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including scheduling an additional VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
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