The Veteran's right claw foot and hammer toes are found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease, granting service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: Service connection granted based on secondary service connection criteria as the current disability is found to be proximately due to a service-connected disability (right ankle degenerative joint disease).
- Claimed conditions
- Right Claw Foot, Hammer Toes
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21014537
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 21014537.
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.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is needed to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the nature and likely cause of any right foot disability, including hallux valgus (bunions), hammer toes, heel spur, and reported history of right foot injury. The issue remains denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right foot degenerative arthritis with pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hammer toes is rated at 30 percent from November 14, 2022 through March 22, 2023. The separate rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right foot remains at 40 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including toenail disorder, toe disorder, headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted higher ratings for hammer toes of the right foot and left foot, but has remanded the issue of a higher rating for right knee degenerative changes status post reconstruction.
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