The Board denied secondary service connection for bilateral hip and knee disorders, but granted increased ratings of 20% each for right foot hallux varus with digit contraction and left foot hallux abducto-valgus with digit contraction.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hip and knee conditions to her service-connected bilateral foot disorder, resulting in denial of secondary service connection. The increased ratings were granted based on the severity of the veteran's symptoms and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hip Disorder, Bilateral Knee Disorder (Chondromalacia Patella)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2003
- Citation
- 0301739
Veterans Law Judge
Acting
Decisions by this judge: 191 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0301739.
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral hip disorder due to issues with the evidence and need for further medical opinions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and multiple orthopedic disabilities, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 6, 2013.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The other issues on appeal have been remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD but denied for a heart disorder. The issues regarding the relationship between service-connected knee disability and the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hip, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disorders are remanded.
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