Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin or foot disability, claimed as residuals of 'jungle rot', and for shrapnel wounds to the right knee. The claim for PTSD was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to her service, including residuals of a back injury, ulcers, a bilateral foot disability, residuals of a left hand injury, or carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a statement of the case on the issue of service connection for status post left great toe avulsion.

The VA denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that his cardiovascular disorder was not related to his military service and did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that it met the criteria for a moderate level of impairment under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of the service-connected bilateral foot disorder and pyelonephritis of the kidneys.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected right foot disability, effective from March 20, 2001.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for pes planus, finding new and material evidence. The issue remains undecided as to whether the current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and VCAA compliance issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, anxiety, memory problems, lack of concentration, PTSD, varicose veins, jungle rot, bilateral leg disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, migraine headaches, and sleep disorder. The reasons provided were that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board is remanding the case to comply with the requirements of VCAA, specifically regarding notice and development required by Quartuccio v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 183 (2002), and Charles v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 370 (2002).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's left foot disability and her migraine headaches. This includes obtaining new VA examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board denied an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's service-connected tinnitus warrants a single 10 percent rating since September 1, 2000.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her service-connected bilateral foot disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of separate ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of back disability, schizophrenia, pes planus, allergies, PTSD, and left knee disability. The decision also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's cardiac disability was not incurred in service, and his skin disability did not result in extensive lesions or marked impairment. The RO denied all other claims as the evidence did not support the requested increased ratings.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with post-operative hallux valgus and excision of hematoma and degenerative changes is currently rated at the maximum schedular percentage allowable. The Board finds that her upper back condition, involving the thoracic and cervical segments of the spine, is related to service. However, she does not have a left leg injury that is related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and arthritis of the right hip as secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus have been denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the service-connected bilateral pes planus, effective from January 1946.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection and assigned 10 percent evaluations each for gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, musculoskeletal low back pain, postoperative scar on the proximal aspect of the left foot, and a left foot disability (classified as status post arthroplasty with pin fixation of the 2nd digit, osteotomy of the 2nd metatarsal, and bunionectomy).