The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right foot hallux valgus, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), were all denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The decision found that there was no evidence supporting a compensable rating for either condition under Diagnostic Code 5280 and also determined that the Veteran's TDIU claim did not meet the criteria based on his combined disability rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot hallux valgus and PTSD, did not prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19166041
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (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 19166041.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the merits as they have no jurisdiction.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in considering all conditions and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right great toe / foot disability and his claimed frostbite injury.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and increased rating claims due to untimely Notice of Disagreement submissions.
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