The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 5280 for hallux valgus. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected right and left foot disabilities are rated based on their direct effects without any presumption or secondary linkage to other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Status-post arthrodesis prosthetic surgery of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint of the right foot with osteoarthritis","location":"Right foot"}, {"condition_name":"Hypertrophic osteoarthritis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint of the left foot, postoperative","location":"Left foot"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19143110
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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