The Veteran is eligible for a TDIU on a schedular basis as of August 3, 2018, and the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment as of that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, right hammer toes, left hammer toes, and depressive disorder with anxiety disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 3, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral pes planus, Right hammer toes two-five, hallux valgus, hallux rigidus status post cheilectomy and Mitchell procedure with prosthesis associated with bilateral pes planus, Left hammer toes two-four, hallux valgus, hallux rigidus status post bunionectomy and prosthesis associated with bilateral pes planus, Depressive disorder with anxiety disorder associated with bilateral pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20008304
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,038 · Granted: 30% (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 20008304.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus is not service-connected due to a duty-to-assist error, and remands the case for further examination and opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus preexisted service and was aggravated by service, warranting a grant of service connection.
- 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.
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