Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2000

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for pes planus was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, right ear infection, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral leg disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The veteran's service-connected left plantar fasciitis and inflammation of the talocalcaneal joint is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 1, 1993. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation for the veteran's hemorrhoids and found service connection for a left foot disability, classified as pes planus. The right foot issue is considered new and material due to additional evidence submitted.

The veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and retained metal fragment lateral to the right eye and pterygium have been granted service connection, with a noncompensable evaluation initially assigned in May 1995 and increased to 10 percent in February 1996. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for the retained metal fragment has also been granted.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's bilateral foot disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptoms and medical evidence.

The Board granted increased evaluations of 30 percent for hypertension and bilateral pes planus, both determined to be service-connected under the direct theory.

The Board found that the veteran's participation in the Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation program was warranted due to his service-connected disabilities and need for rehabilitation, but denied it because he refused to cooperate in developing a feasible goal.

The VA has granted an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right great toe disability from zero percent to 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The DIC benefits claim was also denied as the veteran would not have been entitled to a total disability rating due to service-connected disability continuously for 10 years prior to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing pes planus worsened during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is well grounded and grants the claim.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for PTSD, increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus with status postoperative repair, and extension of a temporary total convalescence rating beyond June 30, 1996. The RO must obtain additional medical records and review the record to identify any coexisting foot disabilities not already service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and an increased rating for the veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that both conditions were aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected foot fungus and plantar warts are each granted a 10 percent evaluation, but the appeal for a combined rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is dismissed as moot due to the individual grant of ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected pes planus, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's chronic back syndrome, pes planus with callus formation, and tinnitus are each rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is not well grounded, and thus denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash and bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions. The Board also found that the veteran did not have an increase in severity of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus during service.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle injury and pes planus, but granted service connection for right ankle sprains. The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for his right ankle sprains prior to January 13, 1999 was also denied.