The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot and knee conditions, finding that the Veteran's pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by in-service activities. The neuropathy of the feet is not related to service, while the knee osteoarthritis is attributed to intercurrent causes.
The deciding factor: The examiner found that the Veteran’s bilateral flat feet were noted as asymptomatic at entry into service and did not worsen during service, thus meeting the criteria for direct service connection. The neuropathy of the feet was determined to be unrelated to service due to continuity of symptomatology post-service. The knee osteoarthritis was attributed to intercurrent causes.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flat foot (pes planus), bilateral peripheral neuropathy, metatarsalgia of the feet, bilateral knee osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20068421
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20068421.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy as there is no evidence of a current disability.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew her appeal and hearing request for increased ratings of persistent depressive disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral flat foot (pes planus) with hallux valgus has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow nerve damage, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome must be remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination.
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