The Board denied service connection for flat feet and bone spurs as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active duty, nor was there clear and unmistakable evidence that they pre-existed service.
The deciding factor: The November 2019 and November 2020 VA medical opinions concluded that the Veteran's flat feet and bone spurs did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist his entry into service and were not aggravated beyond natural progression by an in-service injury, event, or illness.
- Claimed conditions
- flat feet, bone spurs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22000286
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 appeal for service connection for flat feet and leg pain as secondary to flat feet was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of administrative review options. The initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for flat feet, irritable bowel syndrome, duodenal gastritis, and fecal incontinence to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review types.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all pending appeals, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these issues.
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