The Veteran's claim for back strain was reopened and granted. Bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, leading to a grant of service connection. The Veteran's left ankle os calcis with deformity is now rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2013.,The Veteran's back strain claim was reopened and granted due to new evidence showing current degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service during parachute jumping. The left ankle os calcis with deformity is now rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back strain claim was reopened because new evidence showed a current diagnosis of degenerative lumbar spondylosis. The left ankle os calcis with deformity is now rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2013 due to marked deformity and pain on weight-bearing.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service during parachute jumping. The left ankle os calcis with deformity is now rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2013 due to marked deformity and pain on weight-bearing.
- Claimed conditions
- Back strain, Bilateral pes planus, Left ankle os calcis with deformity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19197088
Veterans Law Judge
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 19197088.
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 determined that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus is not service-connected due to a duty-to-assist error, and remands the case for further examination and opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus preexisted service and was aggravated by service, warranting a grant of service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for acquired flatfoot. The appeal is denied.
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