The Board denied service connection for right foot and ankle disabilities, including as secondary to the service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella and instability, finding that there was no causal or etiologically related link between these conditions and the service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The weight of the lay and medical evidence is against a finding that the current right foot and ankle disorders were caused by or worsened in severity due to the service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella and instability. The Veteran's own statements, as well as those of her acquaintances, contradicted her assertions that the service-connected knee disability was the cause of the post-service injuries.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis in the right foot, tendonitis and osteoarthritis in the right ankle
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20071150
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 20071150.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical releases. A new VA examination is also required to determine the nature and likely cause of his diagnosed foot disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hammertoes of the right third, fourth, and fifth post-operative toes has been granted with an effective date of June 2006.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's right foot disorder did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The arthritis in the right foot was not exhibited within the first post-service year.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain, claimed as arthritis in the right foot and a bone spur in the right foot. The effective date is not specified.
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