The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that his hallux valgus of both feet did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent and that he was capable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: After considering functional loss due to pain, fatigue, weakness, lack of endurance, incoordination, and flare up, the Board found his hallux valgus of the bilateral foot is considered equivalent to severe hallux valgus. However, he was assigned a 10 percent rating - the highest rating possible for hallux valgus - for the entire appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- hallux valgus of the right foot, hallux valgus of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25038708
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 an initial rating of 10 percent for hallux valgus of the right and left foot, effective November 30, 2004. The claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hallux valgus of the right foot as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and left plantar fascia release. The claims for increased ratings for painful surgical scar, left ankle s/p tarsal tunnel and partial plantar fascia release, and bilateral plantar fasciitis and left plantar fascia release were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hallux valgus of the left and right foot, hammer toes on the right foot, and bilateral great toe arthritis, all secondary to the service-connected porokeratosis with intractable plantar keratosis. The increased rating period for the service-connected left foot porokeratosis was denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment due to the permanent loss of use of his feet and functional equivalent of right hip ankylosis resulting from his service-connected disabilities.
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