The Veteran's right foot SFW residuals have been evaluated as a moderately severe disability for more than 20 years and therefore that finding is protected. The evidence does not show actual improvement of the Veteran's right foot SFW residuals to include in the ability to function in the ordinary conditions of life and work.
The deciding factor: The reduction in rating from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective August 26, 2014, for the Veteran's right foot SFW residuals is void ab initio due to lack of actual improvement in functional capacity.
- Claimed conditions
- Shell Fragment Wound of the Right Foot with Retained Foreign Bodies (Group X and XI muscle injuries), Posttraumatic Arthritis Midfoot Periarticular Cuboid, Secondary Chronic/Traumatic Tendonitis of the Peroneus Longus and Brevis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2018
- Citation
- 1813293
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1813293.
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: Denied
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- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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