The Board denied service connection for a left foot disorder, to include arthritis, due to the absence of evidence showing a current disability during the pendency of the claim. The right foot issue was remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion and lack of recent diagnosis supported the denial of service connection for the left foot condition. For the right foot, an addendum opinion was needed due to inadequate medical rationale provided by the previous examiner.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot disorder, to include arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2024
- Citation
- 24032857
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to address service connection and rating issues.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the left foot disorder and denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for IBS, chronic bronchitis, and headaches. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for the left hip disorder and denied higher ratings.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including left and right knee disorders, hypertension, left hand, foot, leg, and arm disorders, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.
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