The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent. Service connection for hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine are granted, while service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, ingrown toenails, and a skin disorder are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is associated with severe deformity and symptoms relieved by orthopedic shoes. Service connection for hypertension is established based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine is denied due to lack of evidence of onset during service or within one year of separation.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Pes Planus, Hypertension, Degenerative Arthritis of the Cervical Spine, Degenerative Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine, Ingrown Toenails, Skin Disorder (Stasis Dermatitis, Skin Dryness, Athlete's Foot, and/or Onychomycosis), Acquired Psychiatric Disorder Other Than PTSD
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 28, 2022
- Citation
- 22066066
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 22066066.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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