The Board finds that the veteran was first treated during service for hallux valgus - a condition that based upon the record remains a current diagnosis. Thus, service connection may be granted for bilateral hallux valgus, based upon incurrence during service. The Board also finds that the pes planus did undergo an increase in severity during the veteran's period of active service and there is no specific finding in the record as to such an increase being caused by the natural progression of the disease.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence supports a grant of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hallux valgus, pes planus of the right foot, and hallux valgus, a bunion, and pes planus of the left foot. The veteran's preexisting bilateral second-degree pes planus was aggravated during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hallux Valgus, Bilateral Pes Planus, Left Foot Bunion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0411120
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,055 · Granted: 31% (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 0411120.
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 Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable rating for athletes' foot and a greater than 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus have been dismissed due to untimely VA Form 10182 submissions.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for traumatic brain injury is granted, and he is awarded a higher level of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD and additional disabilities.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence in the file on which to decide these claims. The appellant's VA treatment records contain diagnoses of GAD and OSA, and he reported symptoms related to his disabilities during service. A new examination and opinion are required to determine if the acquired psychiatric disorder is associated with service, as well as for OSA and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis.
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