The Board found that the appellant is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 2, 2004 for his service-connected bilateral claw toes, hammer toes and calluses. From March 2, 2004 onwards, an increased rating of 40 percent was warranted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not meet the criteria for a 50% disability evaluation prior to March 2, 2004 due to lack of all toes being hammer toes, very painful calluses, or marked varus deformity. From that date onwards, the appellant's symptoms met the criteria for a 50% disability evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral claw toes, hammer toes, calluses
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 24, 2006
- Citation
- 0621886
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (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 0621886.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires additional development, including an addendum VA opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the preexistence and aggravation of foot disabilities during service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic feet pain, corns, and calluses due to aggravation during active duty service. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was aggravated by his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an addendum or supplemental medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically his pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hammer toes.
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