The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral bunions and hammertoes of the feet, finding that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral foot conditions (bunions and hammertoes) were more likely due to non-service-connected rheumatoid arthritis rather than his service-connected left ankle sprain.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral bunions, hammertoes of bilateral feet
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23041052
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 23041052.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for trochanteric pain syndrome of bilateral hips, bilateral ankle sprain, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of bilateral knees. The remaining claims were denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including alopecia, bilateral bunions, wrist and hip disabilities, knee and lower extremity disabilities, depression, back disability, cyst removal of the right hand, plantar fasciitis, and a heart murmur with palpitations, as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The appeal seeking revision or reversal of the October 1979 rating decisions that denied service connection for various foot conditions and skin disorders is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral bunions condition, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.
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