The Board denied service connection for a back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus with obesity as an intermediate step.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the claim that the Veteran's back disability was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus, including through obesity as an intermediary step.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2024
- Citation
- A24068316
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), left restless leg syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right ankle disability, right ankle scar, and hypertension. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability.
- Denied
The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain (back disability) as there was no evidence of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable or unfavorable ankylosis, intervertebral disc syndrome with associated neurologic abnormalities.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected back disability, and service connection for sleep apnea and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.
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