The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His degenerative arthritis of the right great toe is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet his request for a higher rating. The residuals of his right third metatarsal fracture are also rated at 10 percent. Service connection for gout was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not warrant ratings higher than the current 10 percent evaluations for both conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right great toe, Residuals of a right third metatarsal fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19170111
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 19170111.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right great toe hallux rigidus with arthritis is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of decision.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for right toe painful motion with arthritis, to include partial toe amputation and toenail removal. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for his right-toe condition and service connection for a bilateral knee condition due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain relevant records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right great toe and right knee. However, the issues of service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD, hypertension, and ED as secondary to hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
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