The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ingrown toenails as secondary to his service-connected disabilities and for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability prior to December 12, 2011. The right knee issues were not addressed in this decision.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current ingrown toenails are not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his knee and foot conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Ingrown toenails, Psychiatric disability (chronic adjustment disorder), Right knee painful motion, Right knee lateral instability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20033131
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 20033131.
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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right knee surgical scar and lateral instability have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. However, the Veteran's sinus bradycardia and palpitations are denied a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee painful motion and a separate initial rating of 20 percent for right knee patellar instability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for the acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted initial ratings for DJD of the thoracic spine, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left knee limitation of extension, while denying higher ratings. The Veteran was also awarded SMC based on regular need for aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's ingrown toenail surgeries did not meet the criteria for a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence, as there was no evidence of severe postoperative residuals requiring home confinement or use of a wheelchair.
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