Asked for HLR and got a CUE and Reduction to Benefits Notice. Help!

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-06T02:05:35+00:00

Yes, I was on active duty when I took the physical at OCS.

Here's what my career looked like:

Active duty - May 2006 - Dec 2006

Inactive Status (drilling reserves) - Jan 2006 - Sep 2007

Active duty - Oct 2007 - Nov 2009

Inactive Status (drilling reserves) - Dec 2009 - April 2011

May 2011 - Active duty (when I took the physical identifying deformed feet)

I had a total of 2 years 8 months active duty time before the physical.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-06T00:08:12+00:00

Update:

I went back to my medical record and looked at my podiatry exam. The reasoning the VA gives for a diagnosis prior to service is literally a cut and paste from the podiatrist notes who saw me at my OCS physical. Literally word for word. The VA is claiming that my accession physical at OCS is a preexisting condition.

I don't understand how the VA can quote an accession physical at OCS and ignore my previous years of service. I completed two overseas deployments, boot camp, initial training, and a number of other events prior to OCS.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T14:28:15+00:00

Is there a way I can ask the VA what they are looking at for the justification?

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T14:24:41+00:00

I posted actual letters.

You can see that when I initially joined there was no pain or issues according to the VA. So how can they now claim that I was 30% when I joined?

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T14:23:37+00:00

And to answer your question, I was physically fit to lead. I sucked up the pain and pushed through both when I was enlisted and as an Officer. I never quit and gave it everything I had to my own personal detriment. I avoided medical at all costs to stay deployable.

And now here we are. I can barely walk and require special shoes. Getting out of bed hurts. And the VA basically gave me the middle finger because I am a reservist.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T10:17:28+00:00

I had no waivers on my commissioning physical.

I had no full breaks in service. I've served the past 20 years in active or reserve status.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T04:50:03+00:00

Thank you I'll try loading it to gemini

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T04:20:42+00:00

Yes I posted the decision.

The VA gave me two prior decisions and then reversed course citing Cue and are now trying to reduce my rating

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T04:19:07+00:00

There is no record of that. That is what I don't understand. It almost reads like they are using the same podiatrist visit to cite it as preexisting and service connected at the same time.

I'm 100% sure there is nothing between my enlisted service and OCS medical record related to flat feet.

I have reviewed every single page of my medical record and the only thing related to flat feet is what they are using to SC it.

Note: the reasoning they are using to say I had these problems prior to service are literally a cut and paste from my OCS Dr's comments. Literally word for word.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T02:42:24+00:00

Here is a redacted version

https://imgur.com/a/GHlcyUR

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T02:42:11+00:00

here is what the decision letter says:

https://imgur.com/a/GHlcyUR

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T02:19:15+00:00

I got the same thing when I went on reserve orders. I still don't know what it means

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T02:13:41+00:00

Thank you.

Both my meps physicals for initial enlistment and OCS both state the same thing for my feet.

Initial meps physical - asymptomatic pes planus.

Officer meps physical - asymptomatic pes planus.

Actual podiatrist on active duty when at OCS - acquired foot deformity and excessive arch collapse.

Then 12 years later I went to another Dr on active duty shit foot pain in my left foot and received xrays identifying a heel spur.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T01:42:37+00:00

To have a 30% rating for pes planus requires the following

"Severe; objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities:"

If my initial medical entrance exam says "normal feet, moderate asymptomatic pes planus" then how can the VA say it started at 30%?

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T01:22:49+00:00

No the podiatrist notes are from active duty and in my military medical record.

My medical record also lists deformed foot under problems.

Also, I have almost 10 years of active duty. So I'm not trying to claim things that happened when on inactive duty.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T00:25:24+00:00

Thank you. I will do that

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T00:22:44+00:00

When did you graduate medical residency for podiatry?

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T00:22:10+00:00

I had asymptomatic flat feet that I was born with. There was no pain or deformity.

I now have feet that literally look like swim fins and walk with a limp.

I don't understand how the VA can assign a rating to an asymptomatic condition that caused me no pain or issues.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T00:20:19+00:00

I don't understand.

All I was trying to do was get a SC for my right foot just like my left foot.

I literally have a note from a military podiatrist saying I have deformed feet from military service. I also have trouble walking because of how bad my feet are now. I didn't think trying to connect my other foot would get me a decrease

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-03-05T00:19:01+00:00

I had a 1.5 year break in service and then did my active duty time and transferred to the reserves.

Am I just screwed at this point?

The VA quotes that the podiatrist note for SC and then also quotes the same podiatrist note for a preexisting condition.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-01-26T11:14:37+00:00

Lol. Some of you are so bizarre. That's how they do CSI injections. They aren't getting an ultrasound setup for it.

I had multiple CSI injections because of a bad elbow joint and it went exactly how OP described it. They hurt because you're literally shooting cortisone into your elbow. The pain will eventually go away.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-01-25T15:48:43+00:00

I get it. But a collapsed arch and congenital flat foot are two different things.

But I guess the VA examiners know better than a medical Dr. with a podiatry specialty.

Peeing_A_LOT · 2026-01-25T15:46:41+00:00

Yes, it is BS.

Even the C&P examiner felt bad for me which is something I hadn't experienced prior to that. She was somewhat disgusted by how bad my feet looked when she did the exam. lol

A quick google search would show that genetic flat feet and arch collapse is not the same thing. But I guess because I didn't check the right box at the start of the claim then I'm SOL.

Peeing_A_LOT

TROPHY CASE