The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hammertoes and to reopen her claim of service connection for a back disorder, including as secondary to service-connected resection of portion of left anterior 11th rib and reconstruction of pectus excavatum with metal rod insert. The rating assigned is 10 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The veteran's hammertoes pre-existed service but worsened during service due to prolonged standing, walking, and wearing boots. Her back disorder was aggravated by post-service injuries, including a December 1987 injury in service that led to current symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hammertoes, back disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 26, 2004
- Citation
- 0413388
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 0413388.
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 withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a back disorder and tinnitus, as new and material evidence was not submitted.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, and neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
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