The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot flat foot is denied as there were no pending claims prior to his March 10, 2022 ITF. The mood disorder rating is granted at 50%. The left ankle disability rating remains at 10%.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a valid claim for service connection for the left foot flat foot prior to his March 10, 2022 ITF and thus no effective date can be assigned before that time. His mood disorder is rated based on its severity as it causes reduced reliability and productivity.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Foot Flat Foot, Mood Disorder, Left Ankle Achilles Enthesophyte, Plantar Spur, and Bone Spur Involvement Ankle Joint
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26039030
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 A26039030.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and mood disorders, effective from February 7, 2012. The Veteran's claim was ongoing until the RO granted service connection for PTSD in July 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received in relation to the claim on appeal, warranting readjudication of the issue. The Veteran's ED is claimed as secondary to his service-connected mood disorder including side effects of medications taken for his mood disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression/major depressive disorder, mood disorder, anxiety/generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed moods. The case is remanded for further consideration.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, with obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder and chronic depression was manifested by symptomatology that more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment for the period from June 28, 2008, to July 10, 2016. For the period from July 11, 2016, the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, with obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder and chronic depression was manifested by symptomatology resulting in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
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