The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot pes planus, left foot pes planus, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions were aggravated by service or otherwise related to military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the current diagnoses of pes planus and lateral epicondylitis are not related to service due to lack of in-service injury, and the examiner for pes planus opined that prolonged standing post-service was more likely a cause of aggravation. The right elbow condition is attributed to years of work as a mechanic.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Foot Pes Planus, Left Foot Pes Planus, Right Elbow Lateral Epicondylitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26013509
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 A26013509.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right foot pes planus was restored to a 10 percent rating effective July 1, 2020. The evidence did not show actual improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence to support a service connection claim for the left foot disability, as there is no credible evidence linking any current left foot condition to an in-service injury or event.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right foot disability was aggravated by his service, and thus grants service connection for a right foot disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot pes planus (flatfoot) has been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate severe bilateral flatfeet.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.