The Veteran's foot disability, including bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and hallux rigidus, was rated at 10 percent prior to August 11, 2014. Ratings in excess of 30 percent were granted from August 11, 2014 to April 19, 2018, and a maximum rating of 50 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hallux rigidus was rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5281 due to its functional equivalent to amputation. The arthritis and plantar fasciitis were rated at 20 percent each under Diagnostic Codes 5010 and 5276, respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe), hallux rigidus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194122
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (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 19194122.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeals regarding the evaluation of bilateral plantar fasciitis and residuals of fractures of the second, fourth, and fifth left toes, as well as the evaluation of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with loss of use, are dismissed as untimely.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and his service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus condition was aggravated by service. The effective date is August 15, 2025.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent, but not higher, has been assigned for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection has also been established for migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis in the left knee, right knee disorder (osteoarthritis), right ankle sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral flat feet, and various foot conditions.
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