The veteran's service-connected disabilities include bilateral pes planus, residuals of frostbite of the right and left feet, and a low back disorder. The RO granted increased ratings for these conditions and also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service records do not show any complaints or findings related to his current foot disorders during active duty. However, he has provided evidence of exposure to cold weather during service at Camp Lucky Strike and reports ongoing symptoms since then. The RO considered the medical evidence and determined that these conditions are related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of frostbite of the hands, Bilateral hearing loss, Pes planus (flat feet), Residuals of frostbite of the right foot, Residuals of frostbite of the left foot, Low back disorder (lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2001
- Citation
- 0124716
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 0124716.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and discectomy with lumbar discogenic pain but granted a 20% initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 18, 2023 through January 16, 2024. The service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss but granted for left knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
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