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

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected pes planus and for service connection for peripheral vascular disease, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The other claims are denied as not well grounded.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for migraine headaches and granted a 30 percent evaluation for flat feet. The claims for right and left knee disorders, as well as an increased evaluation for fracture of the little toe of the left foot, are addressed in the remand portion.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fractures of the feet and left ankle sprain, have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent. The TDIU rating is granted due to his effective unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, abnormal reaction to insect bites, head disability, neck disability, and right foot disability other than residuals of frozen feet are not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The veteran's preexisting pes planus was aggravated by active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board determined that the appellant's service-connected pes planus, with plantar callosities and hallux valgus, bilateral, postoperative, and double osteotomy and bunionectomy, left, is manifested by exquisitely tender metatarsal heads and marked pes plano valgus foot type. The criteria for a 50 percent evaluation have been met.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection and evaluations for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral otitis media, bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, and dermatophytosis with tinea cruris due to the veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for pes planus is not well-grounded because there is no evidence showing a pre-existing condition in service or any subsequent increase in severity during service.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability and a cardiac disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, residuals of a neck injury, pes planus, sinusitis, allergies, duodenal ulcers, and hernia are not well-grounded.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain medical records and conduct a thorough orthopedic evaluation. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral metatarsalgia is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in severity during service and concluding that the preexisting condition had resolved by the time of discharge.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide the veteran with another opportunity to submit private treatment records.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of pronounced impairment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for lumbar strain is well-grounded and remanded to allow further development. The claims of bilateral shin splints and bilateral plantar fasciitis are not well-grounded.