The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings higher than 30 percent for bilateral hallux valgus prior to September 23, 2002. The decision found that all of his foot-related symptoms are part and parcel of his service-connected bilateral hallux valgus.
The deciding factor: The VA compensation examiner could not clinically differentiate the signs and symptoms attributable to the bilateral hallux valgus from those attributable to other diagnosed conditions, including pes planus, talonavicular osteoarthritis, tight heel cord, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia. The interaction between these conditions made it impossible to separate their effects on the Veteran's foot function.
- Claimed conditions
- Hallux Valgus of the right foot, Hallux Valgus of the left foot, Pes Planus, Talonavicular Osteoarthritis, Tight Heel Cord, Plantar Fasciitis, Metatarsalgia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2010
- Citation
- 1048360
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 1048360.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was denied as the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the PTSD with cannabis use disorder, mild issue is dismissed. The initial rating for plantar fasciitis remains at 10 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's pes planus is rated at 30 percent, the highest rating available for unilateral pes planus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence in the file on which to decide these claims. The appellant's VA treatment records contain diagnoses of GAD and OSA, and he reported symptoms related to his disabilities during service. A new examination and opinion are required to determine if the acquired psychiatric disorder is associated with service, as well as for OSA and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.