The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not suggest that the Veteran's service-connected right toe and shoulder disabilities alone produce an inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Right fifth toe metatarsalgia s/p pip joint arthroplasty, Left foot metatarsalgia, Right foot metatarsalgia toes 1-4, Left shoulder clavicle fracture residuals with limited motion of the arm at shoulder level, flexion and/or abduction, Right shoulder clavicle fracture residuals with limited motion of the arm at shoulder level, flexion and/or abduction, Surgical scar, right fifth amputation stump
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23025847
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 23025847.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an initial 70 percent rating, but not higher, for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's foot disabilities began during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's increased rating for left foot metatarsalgia is denied. A 10 percent disability rating for TBI residuals from July 13, 2010 is granted. Service connection for post-concussive disorder is granted. The case is remanded to determine if service connection should be granted for erectile dysfunction.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot pes planus, bilateral pes planus, left foot metatarsalgia, and right foot metatarsalgia were denied. The highest available rating of 20 percent was assigned for right foot pes planus prior to October 2021, and 30 percent thereafter. For left and right foot metatarsalgia, the Veteran is already in receipt of the highest available rating (10 percent).
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