The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and lumbosacral strain. The medical evidence did not support evaluations in excess of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: VA examiners found that the veteran's symptoms resulted in no more than moderate functional impairment in both feet and a mild to moderate impairment in his lumbar spine, which do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Reiter's syndrome, Right foot tenotomies and excision of an osteoma of the great toe, with deformity of the third, fourth, and fifth toes, and with an enthesophyte formation of the right calcaneus (right foot disorder), Fracture of the second metatarsal, left foot, with a hammertoe deformity of the fourth digit and deformities of the third, fourth, and fifth toes, and with an enthesophyte formation of the left calcaneus (left foot disorder), Lumbosacral strain, with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2001
- Citation
- 0126993
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 0126993.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, Reiter's syndrome, and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and that his service-connected disabilities do not warrant an earlier effective date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of August 2, 2012 for the establishment of service connection for Reiter's syndrome with degenerative arthritis of cervical spine and obstructive sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Reiter's syndrome and granted service connection for ulcerative colitis as secondary to Reiter's syndrome, effective December 11, 2001.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected Reiter's syndrome and foot disabilities.
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