The Board has determined that the Veteran's asymptomatic bilateral heel calluses are related to his military service, but does not find any evidence linking other foot disorders to his service. The reduction from a 50 percent disability rating to a 40 percent disability rating for right hand injury with right radial nerve neuropathy was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's asymptomatic bilateral heel calluses were related to his military service, but there is no evidence linking other foot disorders such as plantar fasciitis and joint space narrowing of the first metatarsal phalanx to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Foot Disorder, Right Hand Injury with Right Radial Nerve Neuropathy (Major)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2016
- Citation
- 1645342
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 1645342.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for OSA and a bilateral foot disorder to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and a bilateral foot disorder due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities resulting in functional impairment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and denied service connection for left, right hip disorders, and a bilateral foot disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development, including obtaining a VA podiatrist's opinion regarding the Veteran's foot disabilities and whether they are related to service. The low back disability claim is also deferred until any relevant opinions on the foot disabilities are obtained.
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