The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for foot conditions (hammer toes, hallux valgus, and loss of longitudinal arch) as well as her claim for a disability rating for bilateral foot calluses. The Board found that there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses related to hammer toes, hallux valgus, loss of longitudinal arch, or other bilateral foot conditions during her military service. The Board concluded that the current foot conditions are less likely caused by or aggravated by her service-connected calluses.
- Claimed conditions
- hammer toes, hallux valgus, loss of longitudinal arch
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20064507
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left foot condition to satisfy a statutory duty related to the Veteran's service-connected knee conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for pes planus with hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, and hammer toes as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain a more thorough medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's left foot/toe disorders are related to her service or secondary to her service-connected left knee disability.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran did not timely file a Board Appeal request and no good cause was shown for the late filing.
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