Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2004

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the denial of service connection for bilateral pes planus due to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied all of his claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic foot disorder, to include pes planus, finding that there is no evidence of any injury or disease in service and no continuity of symptomatology thereafter. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim.

The Board has determined that a disability evaluation of twenty (20) percent is warranted for residuals of service-connected tibial fracture, with grade 1 pes planus of the left foot and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and heel spurs were not incurred or aggravated by his active service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of his service-connected knee disorders. The claims for increased evaluations for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied as well.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, or bilateral pes planus that is related to service. The stress fracture of the left foot also did not result in any current disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, chronic sinusitis, plantar warts, and a low back disability. The appeals are dismissed as there is no evidence of in-service or postservice chronic conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied due to lack of verifiable in-service stressor. The left knee and foot disabilities were evaluated based on the current schedular criteria, with no additional extraschedular consideration granted.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of his military service. Service connection is denied for all issues raised in this appeal.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right shoulder impingement syndrome and bicipital tendonitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, myofascial lumbar paraspinal muscle pain, residuals of a right fifth toe fracture (status post arthroplasty), and breast disease (status post left breast lumpectomy times three).

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the service-connected bilateral pes planus with mild heel valgus and bilateral hallux valgus, effective from October 2001.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The right foot injury is not considered incurred or aggravated in peacetime service, and there is no evidence of a psychiatric disorder including post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal as her substantive appeal was not timely filed.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including PTSD with insomnia and chronic fatigue, a bilateral foot disability, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing flat feet did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his periods of active duty, and thus denied service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VCAA notice and need for further examination regarding service connection for a left hip disorder.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected pes planus, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for skin rash, pes planus (flat feet), compression fracture of thoracic spine, and COPD. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining verification of her military service and providing the veteran with VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.