The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and painful left foot bone spur as the evidence did not support an increase in severity beyond the natural progression of the disabilities during active service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's statements have almost no probative value, and there is no clear evidence of an increase in severity of the disabilities during service. The first diagnosis of a left foot bone spur was documented in November 2010, long after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes planus, painful left foot bone spur
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2024
- Citation
- 24033391
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).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis effective February 1, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated by his military service.
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