The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disability does not warrant an increased rating, and his bilateral foot disability is currently rated at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the veteran's skin disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on systemic or nervous manifestations, ulcerations, or exceptionally repugnant conditions. The bilateral foot disability is rated as 50% disabling under Diagnostic Code 5278, which requires marked contraction of plantar fasciae with dropped forefoot, all toes hammer toes, very painful callosities and marked varus deformity.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Foot Disability, Skin Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2000
- Citation
- 0031296
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0031296.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral foot disability and migraine disability, both secondary to existing service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right and left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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