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

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus and status post bunionectomy and arthroplasty of the left foot with severe hammertoes right foot, 2nd and 3rd metatarsophalangeals are directly related to service. The calluses and bunions noted during service have led to current conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bilateral fallen arches or pes planus that are service-connected, and there is no evidence of left hand, wrist, or finger disabilities due to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for an extension of his vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the veteran's preexisting condition worsened during active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the right and left knees, bilateral pes planus, lung disability, right and left ankle disabilities, lipoma of the left arm and cyst/boil of the neck (claimed as secondary to radiation exposure), right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, and right and left wrist disabilities. The claims were denied on the basis that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his bilateral pes planus, finding that it is primarily manifested by pain and mild pes planus with no more than moderate functional impairment. The preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, and his panic disorder was granted a 30 percent evaluation effective January 25, 1999. The issue of an earlier effective date for the increased rating remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral chondromalacia and denied service connection for bilateral hyperkeratosis of plantar forefoot area. The veteran's bilateral chondromalacia is considered to have started during service, while his current condition of hyperkeratosis of the plantar forefoot area is not linked to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, but denied some issues related to earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, plantar fasciitis, knee disorder, ankle disorder, and back disorder as secondary to pes planus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, finding that his foot problems in service were acute and transitory with no residual disability. The current foot conditions were not related to any disease or injury incurred during active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current pes planus condition was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus warrants a higher initial rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of claim. The compression fracture of C6 with avulsion and traumatic arthritic changes does not warrant an increased rating as it is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, currently rated at 30 percent, does not warrant a higher rating as it is no more than severe in degree and does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's service-connected right foot disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his left foot disability is also rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current evaluations are appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and thoracolumbar strain with myositis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus preexisted service and was not permanently aggravated or increased in severity during active service.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus and left ankle sprain were not aggravated in service, while his degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy, mild renal insufficiency, and edema of the lower extremities, and chronic prostatitis are all denied.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. For his peripheral neuropathy and plantar fibromatosis, the VA determined that these conditions were not caused by negligence or other fault on their part.

The Board found that the veteran's plantar fasciitis of both feet resulted in no more than moderate impairment, without objective pathology demonstrating a greater degree of disability. Therefore, the claims for increased evaluations were denied.