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

The Board has granted service connection for right foot pes planus. The veteran's claims for secondary service connection for right leg, knee, and hip disorders are remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the severity of his various disabilities and whether he meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension purposes.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service right foot defects, infirmities, or disorders. The veteran's current right foot disabilities were not shown to have resulted from disease or injury in service, did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period, and are not otherwise related to service.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 is not productive of pronounced symptoms, while his right plantar fasciitis is not shown to be productive of more than moderate symptoms. The RO denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for keloid scars of the left foot and a higher initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31 of Title 38 of the United States Code, finding that she was rehabilitated and did not meet the criteria for reentrance into a rehabilitation program.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent and denied an increased rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for his service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and a foot disability.,Additional development is required before the merits of these reopened claims can be addressed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a heart disorder (claimed as mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation), and essential tremor. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint and disc disease, status post L5 laminectomy, is remanded due to changes in the applicable rating criteria.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, and whether the veteran lacked mental capacity to file a timely notice of disagreement in September 1978.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for malaria was denied, and his claim for service connection for a right foot disability other than residuals of a shell fragment wound is also denied. The Board found that the veteran does not have active malaria or current residual disabilities from malaria, and there is no evidence linking any currently present right foot disability to service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral flat feet, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is no more than severe in degree, and pronounced bilateral pes planus was not shown. Therefore, a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus has not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's low back disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a right foot disability consequent to cold weather exposure, finding that the disability picture did not approximate total disability of the foot comparable to amputation or loss of use.

The veteran's service-connected ulcer, duodenal, and bilateral pes planus (flat feet) were evaluated at their current 10 percent ratings. The conditions are not currently active or disabling enough to warrant a higher rating.