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

The veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent, and his low back disorder is rated at 10 percent. The right foot condition and cervical spine injury are not service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including blood clot and plantar warts, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA medical records did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and bilateral pes planus with DJD were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right eye injury and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his hypertrophic gastritis.

The Board has granted increased ratings for back strain and cervical spine arthritis, as well as service connection for these conditions. The appellant's claims for pes planus and plantar warts were reopened and granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for his bilateral foot disabilities were denied. The decision does not specify the basis of denial for the psychiatric claim, but it is noted that a psychiatric disability was not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral pes planus with calluses, finding that the additional evidence submitted was not new and material.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the current severity of the disability.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus and a calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis of the left heel were denied as there was no evidence to support ratings higher than the current 10 percent evaluations.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, nor was it aggravated by service. The veteran is also denied special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The veteran's insomnia is found to be related to his service-connected GERD, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and myofascial pain, osteitis pubis are currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his pes planus, and that he did not have valley fever with pulmonary obstructive disease or any other condition related to military service.

The Board found that the appellant's pre-existing right foot disability did not worsen during his military service and denied entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right and left heel spur disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a compensable evaluation for a retained metal fragment lateral to the right eye and pterygium.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis with pes planus deformity, which is higher than the initial 10 percent assigned in February 1998. The issue of vocational rehabilitation services was not addressed due to its separate nature from the main appeal.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, with plantar fasciitis, was not incurred or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a plantar fascia strain, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking any current foot condition to an incident in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus.