The Board finds that the earliest date upon which it is factually ascertainable that the Veteran has Morton's neuroma of the right foot is July 28, 2011. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for Morton's neuroma is denied.
The deciding factor: The medical nexus linking the onset of a right foot condition in service to the current diagnosis of Morton's neuroma was not obtained until April 2012, and the earliest date as of which it can be said that the criteria for entitlement arose is July 28, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- Morton's neuroma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1512020
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1512020.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the issue of service connection for Morton's neuroma has not been adjudicated by the AOJ in the first instance.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a complete record, including an evaluation of his service-connected foot disabilities and their current severity.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity Morton's neuroma conditions are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there is no evidence of associated peripheral nerve disability that would warrant a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right foot pes planus with chronic pain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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