Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2002

The Board finds that the veteran's plantar warts were incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU based on secondary service connection for bilateral pes planus, degenerative changes in feet and knees, back, and hip problems is also pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and right tarsal tunnel syndrome, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for pes planus and denying both issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, ventral hernia, pes planus, inguinal hernia, and cervical spine disorder. The reasons were that there was no evidence of these conditions being incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred during service and is granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot disability, characterized as a congenital bipartite fibular sesamoid with sesamoiditis and plantar fasciitis, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent since December 14, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for his right foot and left foot disabilities due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus does not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent, as there was no evidence of marked deformity or swelling on use. The disability did not interfere with his employment.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's right foot disability, effective from the date service connection became effective.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, otitis media on a direct basis, and increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The claim for increased evaluation of bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted with a rating of 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral pes planus, with callosities, is manifested by no more than severe impairment, including marked deformity and pain; there is no showing of marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, or marked inward displacement. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a fractured skull and foot disability, as well as his claim for an increased evaluation for left knee contusion. The VA examinations did not find any current residuals of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of migraine headaches or a left shoulder disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted but with no compensable evaluation assigned.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and bilateral pes planus. The veteran's claims are now reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for athlete's foot, an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and an initial compensable rating for gastritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis of the knees and spine, bilateral radicular pains due to nerve root compression, flat feet, and an eye disability, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a stab wound of the right leg. The decision also denied reopening of his claim for residuals of a stab wound of the left leg.

The veteran's bilateral tarsal coalition, pes planus, and tarsal arthritis are service-connected. The residuals of a right leg contusion, right tibia contusion, right fibula contusion, and right knee laceration are also service-connected as secondary to these conditions.