The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars of the left and right great toes have been rated as non-compensable, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scars has also been denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected right hallux valgus post-operative bunionectomy and delayed union is not warranted based on current evidence.,The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis has a maximum assigned rating of 50 percent, which is the highest possible under Diagnostic Code 5276. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings as his symptoms do not warrant such an evaluation.,No effective date prior to September 17, 2017 was granted for the increased evaluation of 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars are rated as non-compensable and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to the nature and extent of his scars.,The Veteran’s right hallux valgus post-operative bunionectomy does not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 5280, given that he has already received the maximum schedular rating for this condition.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at its highest possible level of 50 percent and no additional functional impairment or disability exists to warrant a higher evaluation. The Veteran’s symptoms do not meet criteria for more severe conditions such as pronounced flatfoot.,No effective date prior to September 17, 2017 was granted because the evidence does not show an increase in severity of the bilateral plantar fasciitis within one year before that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Surgical scars of left and right great toes, Painful surgical scars of left and right great toes, Right hallux valgus post-operative bunionectomy and delayed union, Bilateral plantar fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19181568
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,350 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19181568.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his total right knee replacement and service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support finding an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for acquired flatfoot. The appeal is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel disease, neuropathy of lower extremities, neuropathy of upper extremities, rhinitis, sinusitis, prostate cancer, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee injuries), and traumatic brain injury is denied due to lack of evidence supporting the presence or relationship of these conditions to service.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for loss of use of a creative organ and sleep apnea related to an acquired psychiatric disability is also denied.
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