The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hallux rigidus and hallux valgus were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during his military service. The VA podiatrist provided an opinion stating that the veteran's condition did not arise from wearing military boots.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence indicated that the veteran's bilateral hallux rigidus and hallux valgus were not related to his period of active duty, with no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hallux rigidus, bilateral hallux valgus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2003
- Citation
- 0316592
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 0316592.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hallux valgus and left 2nd hammertoe, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Dismissed
The appeal for higher ratings and special monthly compensation was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left wrist condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, dry mouth, and a skin condition. Several claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including right and left knee conditions, bilateral feet issues, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral metatarsalgia, and daytime hypersomnolence. The sleep disorder other than daytime hypersomnolence was remanded.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.