The Veteran's left foot disability, including tarsal tunnel syndrome and surgical scars, resulted in a total loss of use to the extent that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump with prosthesis. The Veteran is therefore entitled to a 40% rating for her left foot disability and special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left foot since February 19, 2014.
The deciding factor: The combined effect of the disabilities forced the Veteran to use a wheelchair on a regular basis and was unable to stand for any length of time, resulting in a total loss of effective function of her left foot other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump with prosthesis.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot disability, tarsal tunnel syndrome, surgical scars on the left foot, lower back disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 24, 2015
- Citation
- 1517717
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 1517717.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ did not obtain all necessary opinions regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The claims for service connection for fatigue, fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and sleep disorder are remanded for further development.
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