The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for right foot pes planus prior to April 18, 2024, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5276, including extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces or marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendon Achillis on manipulation.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25044415
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 an earlier effective date of August 15, 2022, for a 10 percent maximum initial rating for service-connected right foot metatarsalgia and granted service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for left and right foot pes planus, plantar fasciitis, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, right hip pain, and left hip pain was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for right foot pes planus, left foot pes planus, trigonum impingement, and pes cavus, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, right knee strain, and left knee strain. Additionally, the Veteran was granted an initial rating of 60 percent for a skin condition, to include dermatitis and tinea pedis.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot pes planus, including as due to a service-connected disability.
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