The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection of a bilateral foot condition (claimed as pes planus) and has determined that she is entitled to service connection due to aggravation during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Board found new and material evidence in the form of statements from the Veteran's family members, which supported the Veteran's testimony regarding her worsening of pes planus during basic training. The Board also considered VA examination findings and private medical opinions, but ultimately determined that the lay statements were sufficient to show in-service aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- pes planus
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19187808
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 denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back, right ring finger, and left foot hallux valgus disabilities but granted an initial 30 percent rating for pes planus from August 17, 2021, a 50 percent rating for pes planus from December 15, 2023, and a separate 10 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis from August 17, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left foot disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate October 2024 VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral degenerative changes of the feet, bilateral hammertoe deformity, bilateral foot ulcers, and onychomycosis as there was no evidence to support an increase in severity during active service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection and increased ratings was dismissed due to untimely filing of the notice of disagreement.
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