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

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and pes planus, and granted an increased rating of 100% for shin splints.

The VA granted a compensable rating of 10% for pes planus effective May 13, 2003. Prior to this date, the veteran's condition was rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining relevant medical records. The issues include pension benefits prior to September 17, 2001; a higher rating for bilateral pes planus; and TDIU.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left foot disability, which is characterized as moderately severe degenerative joint disease. The decision also addressed the issue of bilateral knee disability but did not reach a final determination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death from pneumonia, which occurred many years after separation from service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and new issues were addressed. The RO granted an increased rating of 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease effective from March 14, 2003, but the other claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review of the evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities and seeks initial compensable evaluations. The case is being remanded to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) and to provide a VA examination for her back condition.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral flat feet condition existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during her period of active duty. Therefore, it was determined that the condition was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the March 1958 decision reducing the veteran's disability rating for service-connected bilateral pes planus from 30 to 10 percent was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The evidence did not show a change in the severity of the condition between 1954 and 1958.

The veteran's disability of the feet, including multiple surgeries and postoperative residuals, is rated at 50 percent. The scar on his left hip is also rated as noncompensable.

The veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for residuals of plantar warts on the feet and a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities were denied by the RO.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right leg and foot disability, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The psychiatric disability claim remains pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the evaluation of his service-connected conditions under both old and current rating criteria.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected retropatellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, pes planus, and migraine headaches.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right hand disability is denied.,A higher rating of more than 10 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disorder, right foot disability, and right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and a back disorder secondary to bilateral pes planus, finding that the veteran's preexisting pes planus did not increase in service and there was no evidence of a link between his back disorder and a service-connected disability.