The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a separate 10 percent rating for left foot Morton's neuroma, associated with the Veteran's service-connected hallux valgus and hammer toes of the left foot.
The deciding factor: The evidence is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran had left foot Morton's neuroma prior to March 31, 2011, which is the date entitlement arose for this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot Morton's neuroma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2025
- Citation
- 25002118
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,812 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25002118.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal, which was dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left foot disability, which is related to service. The Veteran reported experiencing left foot pain in service and underwent surgery for neuroma removal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral foot condition, including heel spur, plantar fasciitis, and left foot Morton's neuroma. The decision finds that these conditions are related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right shoulder disability, left foot Morton's neuroma, traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, arthralgia of the left knee, post-concussive syndrome, depressive disorder with post-concussive syndrome (previously rated as personality change due to another medical condition), migraine headaches, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The AOJ is directed to obtain all VA treatment records scanned into VistA Imaging or other repository.
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