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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. However, the claims for all other conditions remain denied as there is no current evidence of these disorders or their association with active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis of both feet does not warrant a higher evaluation, as it is currently rated at 20 percent for each foot and there is no evidence of more severe impairment.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated as zero percent disabling, and his plantar fasciitis of the left heel is rated at twenty percent. The veteran has no service-connected disability related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War.

The veteran's left shoulder disorder is currently rated at 20% and his bilateral foot and heel disorders are service-connected. The appeal for increased evaluation of the left shoulder is granted, while the appeal for service connection of the foot and heel disorders remains pending.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the ratings of bronchial asthma and pes planus, as well as service connection for right tibia and fibula fracture residuals, hypertension, and hearing loss. The effective date for these benefits was set at August 26, 2002.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for pes planus and also denied secondary service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, status post bilateral knee replacements; bilateral ankle disorders, including arthritis; and arthritis of the feet, hips, back and arms as secondary to pes planus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a left knee disability, finding no competent medical evidence of these conditions until many years after service. The Board also found no causal link between any incident of service and these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral foot disability, including bilateral flat feet and hammertoes, began during service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The veteran's right foot disability, characterized by old healed fractures and arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The RO has granted the increased evaluation based on current clinical findings including pain and limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 16, 1997 for a 20 percent evaluation of his service-connected left foot disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal during a personal hearing, and the Board dismissed the case without prejudice.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not show pronounced deformity or severe inward displacement and spasm of the tendo achilles.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible level, and his bilateral foot disability and hemorrhoids are each rated appropriately based on their severity.

The veteran's hypertension with abnormal EKG and tortuosity of the thoracic aorta, with exertional angina and coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent disabling.,There is no evidence of active malaria in the current record. The veteran's malaria claim is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various disabilities, including musculoskeletal issues of the ankles, knees, hips, wrists, arms, shoulders, and spine; bilateral foot disability; right eye disability; and fibrocystic breast disease. The decision is based on a finding that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back strain and bilateral flat feet, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's right and left plantar fasciitis with Achilles tendinitis have been rated as noncompensably disabling prior to March 20, 2000, and as 10 percent disabling from that date. The appeal is denied for ratings in excess of these evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis and hypertrophic changes of the navicular cuneiform articulation of both feet, as well as sinusitis. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an increased evaluation for his left foot tyloma, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral pes planus and headaches were denied by the RO. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more than mild or minimally symptomatic pes planus, and that the veteran's headaches are generally described as tension-type with occasional migraines.