The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since March 25, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected foot and knee disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to the functional impairment caused by his conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left hallux valgus and flexion contracture involving the great toe's IP joint, degenerative changes secondary to multiple surgeries (left foot disability), chondromalacia patella of the left knee, chondromalacia patella of the right knee, residual left foot scars, right foot bunion deformity with degenerative arthritis and hammer toes of the lesser toes post-surgical correction (right foot disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 11, 2022
- Citation
- A22020492
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 A22020492.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and chondromalacia patella of the right knee, finding that these conditions were aggravated during active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and an increased initial rating of 30 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease with eosinophilic esophagitis, while denying increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the left and right knees, a compensable rating for three surgical scars on the left lower extremity, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and headaches. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including painful scars of the right knee, left foot plantar fasciitis, residuals of fracture of the left talus, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The claims were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the cases for further review due to inadequate prior examinations and the need for a new evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.
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