The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral foot disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5276. The Veteran was currently assigned a 30 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the Tendo-Achilles on manipulation, which is required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, hammer toes, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis of the feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20079442
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 20079442.
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.
- 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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion on whether plantar fasciitis was aggravated by active duty training.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus based on aggravation of a preexisting disability, but denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities.
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