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

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected bilateral pes planus, with a history of plantar fasciitis, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, or bilateral pes planus due to direct service incurrence and no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for irregular lung expansion, blood abnormalities, gastrointestinal problems, skin rashes and joint pain due to undiagnosed illness, PTSD, lumbosacral strain, flat feet, cervical strain, and a left leg disability were all denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the veteran's service and his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's flat feet existed prior to his entrance into military service and did not chronically increase in severity during service or as a result of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, back, bilateral foot, and right knee disabilities, were not incurred or aggravated by active duty, inactive duty for training, or active duty for training. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with arthritic changes of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 50 percent based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic plantar fasciitis of each foot, finding that the veteran's bilateral foot pain and functional impairment meet the criteria for such an evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, including bulging of the talus, hammertoes and hallux valgus. The effective date remains at November 15, 1990.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral foot disability is as likely as not related to his inservice injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected left foot disorder and a 10 percent disability rating for his right foot disorder, effective from April 1995. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains on appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral foot disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting pes planus did not undergo chronic increase in severity due to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 1, 1997 for the payment of additional compensation benefits on account of dependents was granted. The claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently experience any of the claimed disabilities and therefore service connection for foot disability due to cold injury, disability manifested by numbness of the hands and legs, left wrist disability, or right wrist disability is denied.

The Board finds no evidence of any current disabilities related to the claimed conditions. The preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, flat feet, and a skin disorder to include cysts, cancer, and a rash as a residual of Agent Orange exposure in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be processed in accordance with the usual procedures following such hearings.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's thoracolumbar strain and denied a compensable evaluation for his right foot plantar fasciitis.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of any disability in question being incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for several musculoskeletal disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and granted it. The issues of service connection for other disabilities are pending.