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

The Board has determined that the veteran's pes planus is likely attributable to injury incurred during active military service.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The veteran's tinnitus remains at a non-compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and initial compensable ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, left knee, and plantar fasciitis of the right foot due to a lack of competent medical evidence or opinion relating any current disabilities to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and training, finding that his goal of becoming a radiologist was not feasible due to the nature of the job requiring prolonged standing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, and also noted that her TDIU benefits claim was not decided as of this decision.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, and the RO has granted an increased rating for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hand disability and an increased rating for bilateral pes planus. The veteran's claims were not addressed regarding diplopia.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not worsen during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's erythema nodosum is causally related to his service-connected Hodgkin's disease, and the Board grants this claim. The claims for arthritis and plantar fasciitis are also granted as secondary to service-connected Hodgkin's disease.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for the claimed conditions and denied all claims.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and assigned a noncompensable evaluation, effective February 18, 1997. The RO later increased the evaluation to 10 percent effective November 2, 1999. The veteran's claim for higher evaluations was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a right foot disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability, finding no competent medical evidence of a current disability that can serve as a predicate for a grant of service connection.

The veteran's osteomyelitis of the left calcaneus and scar of the plantar surface of the left foot are currently rated at their highest possible evaluations, with no further increase in evaluation for these conditions. The limitation of motion of the left ankle is also evaluated at its maximum.

The veteran's bilateral foot disability is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability. The TDIU issue remains unresolved as it presents mixed results with some issues granted and others not.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of service connection were denied. The RO granted the veteran a temporary total evaluation for left foot and ankle disability, but did not provide proper notice to sever the grant of service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for pes planus, finding that there was no evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during active service.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's right foot disability, finding it to be a moderate condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is as likely as not related to aggravation during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left heel, finding that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.