The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, except for a 30% rating for bilateral pes planus prior to November 19, 2023, and a non-compensable rating for right knee limited extension since March 4, 2024.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates or higher ratings based on the applicable criteria and regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disability, bilateral pes planus, left knee limited flexion, right knee limited flexion, left knee instability, left knee limited extension, right knee limited extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25033819
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a psychiatric disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the presumption of soundness at entrance into service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral knee instability and denied service connection for right and left knee instability, finding no nexus between the Veteran's knee conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.
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