The veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes is currently rated at 30 percent for the period from June 30, 1999, to November 4, 2003. The Board has determined that a rating of 50 percent is warranted for this period based on his current condition post-surgery. For the period from January 1, 2004, forward, he is entitled to a temporary evaluation of 100 percent due to surgical treatment necessitating convalescence.
The deciding factor: The veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes has been found to more nearly approximate the criteria for a 50 percent rating than a 30 percent rating for the period from June 30, 1999, to November 4, 2003.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 16, 2004
- Citation
- 0406793
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 0406793.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in functional impairments necessitating the regular aid and attendance of another person, and caused him to be substantially confined to his dwelling. The Board has granted special monthly compensation for aid and assistance and housebound.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes is a congenital defect and not caused or aggravated by his service-connected painful calluses and metatarsalgia, thus denying the claim for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his inability to work is due to other factors such as a stroke. The combined rating for his service-connected conditions (50% for bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes and 20% for residuals of a right ankle injury) meets the threshold criteria for a TDIU rating, but the evidence does not show that these disabilities alone are sufficient to render him unemployable.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right heel spurs and bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes, as well as secondary service connection for left knee and low back disorders. The veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.
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