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

The Board has determined that the veteran's status post left total hip replacement is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral pes planus with osteoarthritis of the feet, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left arm and hand, as well as for left foot pes planus, are not supported by the evidence and have been denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus does not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and eligibility for adaptive equipment for an automobile due to lack of loss or use of feet, hands, or permanent visual impairment related to service-connected disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus did not undergo an increase in severity during his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability and to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability. The decision found no new and material evidence for reopening the back disability claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for disabilities of both feet, finding that there was no evidence linking the surgeries to June 1991 to additional disability.

The Board has granted higher disability ratings for traumatic arthritis of the left and right feet, with pes planus. The veteran now receives a 20 percent rating for his left foot condition and a 10 percent rating for his right foot condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the veteran's left ankle limitation of motion, but denied an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for flat feet, which was previously denied in 1983. The pre-service flat feet were found to have increased in severity during active service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current right foot disability, which was first documented many years after service, is related in any way to service, including as being due to frostbite. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ankle disorders are not related to his right leg contusion in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial in 1973. The secondary claims for back disorder and hypertension are still pending.

The veteran's asthma and right foot plantar fasciitis are both found to be incurred in service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot disorder, characterized as subtalar arthritis with secondary subtalar fusion, began during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral plantar callosities and granted it, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise showing that the current bilateral foot disability likely began during his period of active service.

The veteran's pes planus with bilateral hallux valgus deformity, status post left bunionectomy, is rated at 50 percent disabling. The TDIU claim was denied as the veteran has not shown that his service-connected disability completely precludes employment.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation for bilateral pes planus and reopened the previously denied claims for service connection of back disorder and bilateral knee disorders, both secondary to bilateral pes planus. However, it was determined that brain damage is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, trigger finger (right third finger) due to cold injury, and foot pain and tingling of toes due to cold injury. The veteran's preexisting conditions did not worsen during service.

The veteran's bilateral foot disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from May 1998. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms and does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.