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Whole decision: Granted

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hallux valgus with osteoarthritis of the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the great toes and left knee chondromalacia patella with osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service. Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder.

The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s current diagnoses to his service, particularly given the long period between service and diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

Claimed conditions
numbness of bilateral great toes, left knee disorder
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
September 21, 2020
Citation
20061819

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 20061819.

What this means for you

A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.

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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