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

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and verifying her service in the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran's flat feet claim is pending as the service-connection theory is not specified.,The secondary service connection for back disorder claim is pending as the service-connection theory is not specified.

The veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis, right foot is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service and the current condition is not related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of current disability or a link between any claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral foot disability did not originate in service and is not otherwise causally related to his military service. The claims for hypertension and heart disease (secondary to hypertension) are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The veteran's current foot disability, bilateral os calcis spurs, is granted as incurred in service. The low back disability is also granted due to the nature of the veteran's complaints and diagnoses during service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and pes planus have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for service connection for a dental disability remains pending as no evidence of service trauma was found.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left knee and left ankle disorders are not service-connected, while his pes planus is currently service-connected.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The RO affirmed its earlier disposition in May 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the initial disability rating for plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and the need to obtain additional evidence and ensure proper VCAA compliance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and chronic gastritis, finding that the pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his back disorder and bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's service-connected right foot hammertoe deformities, pes planus, and status post hammertoe repair of the fifth toe with a residual scar are currently rated at 10% each. The Board finds that these conditions do not warrant an increased rating as they do not meet the criteria for moderately severe disability in either foot.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left ankle, right foot, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The VA examination did not diagnose any of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disability. However, further development is required to determine if these disabilities are related to active service.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of record demonstrating a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected plantar warts. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected plantar warts was denied.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the service-connected low back disability and has denied an initial compensable evaluation for the service-connected left plantar fasciitis.