The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet due to a lack of evidence linking current foot disabilities to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: There was no competent evidence or medical opinion linking the veteran's current foot disorders, diagnosed as tinea pedis and neuropathy, to active duty service. The first objective manifestations of a foot disorder were in 2003, 20 years after service, which provides negative evidence against the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of frostbite of the feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0902574
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's foot disabilities, including whether they are related to his service in Korea.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, and he was also denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a search for alternative service treatment records and an updated VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of frostbite of the right hand and feet, finding that the veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not due to in-service exposure to extreme cold weather.
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