The Board determined that the Veteran's current foot disabilities, including left hindfoot fusion, were not caused by or aggravated by the January 1990 left ankle triple arthrodesis. The Veteran's existing foot conditions predated the surgery and are considered a necessary consequence of the procedure.
The deciding factor: The VHA orthopedic surgeon opined that the left hindfoot fusion was the only disability resulting from the January 1990 triple arthrodesis, which is an expected result of the procedure. The other foot conditions were present prior to the surgery and are considered a necessary consequence.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Hindfoot Fusion, Left Hallux Valgus, Left Fourth Toe Claw (Clavus), Left Second Hammer Toe, Left Pes Planus, Onychomycosis of Left Foot, Onychodystrophy of Left Foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0913100
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 0913100.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new and relevant evidence was not submitted to support these claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU effective November 8, 2019.
- Granted
The Board granted higher ratings for several conditions, including PTSD, right hip disability, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, BPH, right elbow disability, right hallux valgus, left hallux valgus, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran is now eligible for attorney fees based on past due benefits awarded in the August 2014 Board decision.
- Dismissed
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