The veteran's service-connected left foot disability, consisting of a healed fracture of the distal aspect of the proximal fifth toe, calcaneal spur, post-traumatic deformity and flaring of the base of the first metatarsal, and post-traumatic arthritic changes, is rated as 10 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The clinical examination revealed no limitation of function upon standing or walking, but the veteran reported daily flare-ups of foot symptoms that impacted his security guard job due to prolonged walking and standing. The X-rays showed a calcaneal spur, post-traumatic deformity and flaring of the base of the first metatarsal with post-traumatic arthritic changes.
- Claimed conditions
- fracture of the distal aspect of the proximal fifth toe, calcaneal spur, osteophyte of the dorsal first metatarsal joint
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0302590
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,419 · Granted: 21% (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 0302590.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and disc herniation is granted.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right foot condition of bunions, plantar fasciitis, and a calcaneal bone spur was aggravated by active duty service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of any current left foot disability, including a fracture and calcaneal spur. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being reviewed again.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent but no higher for right foot osteoarthritis and calcaneal spur from April 12, 2016 to April 9, 2021, but denied a higher rating from April 9, 2021.
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