The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and granted a 20 percent rating, but no greater, for lumbar degenerative disc disease from August 25, 2021, forward. The claim for TDIU prior to November 18, 2021, was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran regarding his lumbar spine disability rating but found that there was not a factual basis to support a TDIU prior to November 18, 2021.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral pes planus, Lumbar degenerative disc disease (lumbar spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25031508
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include alcohol use disorder, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and PTSD was granted. Other claims for various conditions were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right foot disability, including consideration of bilateral pes planus.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as it was not factually ascertainable that he was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 28, 2016.
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