The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and other foot conditions, left knee strain with osteoarthritis, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee strain, tinnitus, right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, and left ear hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 50% for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, which is the highest rating available. However, his other service-connected conditions and non-service-connected conditions do not allow him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to their severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Pes Planus with Plantar Fasciitis, Left Knee Strain with Osteoarthritis, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Lumbosacral Strain with Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome, Right Knee Strain, Tinnitus, Right Foot Hallux Valgus, Left Foot Hallux Valgus, Left Ear Hearing Loss, Right Hammer Toes, Left Hammer Toes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24086698
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 A24086698.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
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