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
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for pes planus with hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, and hammer toes as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a noncompensable rating for hammer toes, a 10 percent rating for right foot arthritis, and temporary total evaluations for surgery associated with the service-connected conditions. The higher initial disability rating for hallux valgus and hallux rigidus was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for bilateral plantar warts but denied a higher rating for PTSD. The claims for service connection for right maxillary neurofibroma, COPD, and hammer toes were reopened.
- Partly granted
The appeal for an increased rating was denied, but the effective date for TDIU was granted as January 2, 2016.
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