Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the appellant's previously denied claim for service connection for a left foot disability.

The Board finds that the veteran's herpes zoster/shingles, back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and headaches are service-connected as they are part of an underlying condition.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating from 10 percent to 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, effective August 31, 1998. The current disability rating of 50 percent is considered the highest available under the applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his knee and foot conditions, as well as rhinosinusitis, were denied. Service connection was established for these conditions, but the RO found that they did not warrant increased evaluations.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a bilateral foot disability other than a metallic foreign body in his right talus, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities were also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus, 20 percent for post-operative residuals of a fracture of the left wrist, and 10 percent for post-operative residuals of a right medial meniscectomy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing pes planus did not worsen during service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 17, 2000. He also has service-connected varicose veins of the left and right legs, each rated at 40 percent. The Board granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's right foot disability, primarily manifested by degenerative joint disease causing loss of range of motion and occasional incapacitating exacerbations, is currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently demonstrated disability of bilateral pes planus with subjective numbness of the toes and pain is due to disease or injury that was aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected fractures and pes planus, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The fracture of the right lateral malleolus was rated at 20 percent, while bilateral pes planus remained at 10 percent. The Board also dismissed the claims regarding increased evaluation for a psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disorder due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, low back injury, and right ankle injury. The claim for higher rating for residuals of a left wrist injury is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable evaluation for his claimed disabilities, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD based on in-service stressors and that the residuals of his stress fracture were essentially asymptomatic.

The Board has granted a 50% disability rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, effective from August 11, 2000. Separate 10% ratings have been assigned for right and left hallux deformities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus warrants a 50% evaluation, the maximum available under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral flat feet warrant a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen her service connection for a bilateral foot disability, concluding that the condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by surgery in 1975.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his symptoms are relieved by built-up shoes or arch supports and there is no evidence of marked deformity or callosities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that her preexisting condition worsened during service but not to an extent warranting compensation.