The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for pes planus is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s back condition has been occurring throughout the entire initial rating period, and the medical evidence supports this finding.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolysis of L4, anterolisthesis of L4 on L5, facet syndrome of the lumbar spine, pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19188975
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 19188975.
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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