The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for a mental disorder (claimed as anxiety) including as secondary to service-connected foot disabilities was denied. The ratings for right and left foot plantar fasciitis with Achilles tendonitis associated with bilateral pes planus were also denied, as well as the compensable ratings for left foot second digit claw toe deformity and left fifth hammer toe deformity. The Veteran's Tailor's bunion (left foot) was not rated.
The deciding factor: The new evidence did not establish that the Veteran’s mental disorder was related to his service-connected foot disabilities or active duty service, nor did it show any aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected foot disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Mental Disorder (claimed as anxiety), Plantar Fasciitis with Achilles Tendonitis, Left Foot Second Digit Claw Toe Deformity, Left Fifth Hammer Toe Deformity, Tailor's Bunion (left foot)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18149308
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 18149308.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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