The Board has granted service connection for right ankle arthritis and residuals of a fracture of the right fourth metatarsal, finding that these conditions were aggravated by service. The claim for right ear hearing loss is also granted as it may be related to in-service noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current right ankle and foot disabilities are found to have been aggravated during service, while his right ear hearing loss disability is considered to be at least as likely as not due to in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Arthritis, Right Foot Hammer Toes, Hallux Valgus, Hallux Rigidus
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19117290
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19117290.
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 reduction of the rating for plantar fasciitis and right foot trauma with hallux valgus from 30% to 10% was improper, as the Veteran's symptoms did not improve. The rating has been reinstated.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right tarsal tunnel syndrome prior to May 8, 2025, and granted a 20 percent rating from that date. The other claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for GERD and a 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches, but denied an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent evaluation for external hemorrhoids effective May 19, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his right ankle disability is denied. For the entire period on appeal, a rating of 30 percent for right ankle ankylosis with tenosynovitis status post arthrodesis is granted.
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