Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency allowance was denied as he did not submit the necessary form to request additional compensation for dependents within one year of receiving notification of his qualifying disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA medical records from Biloxi and a need for further examination of the veteran's flat feet.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's left foot disorders, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a right foot disability and a back disability, requiring further examination and review of the evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral pes planus was granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on the basis of aggravation during active duty and for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet and muscle and nerve injuries as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected right knee, bilateral pes planus, scar residuals of left lateral breast biopsy, scar residuals of left index finger, and scar residuals of left thumb. The evidence did not show compensable limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for right foot deformities and bilateral pes planus were granted, with a 20% rating assigned as of January 13, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than the current 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's hearing loss or foot disorder to his military service, and denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, but granted service connection for a chronic acquired skin disorder (benign skin growths).,The veteran's pes planus preexisted his military service and was not aggravated by active duty. The skin disorders were first manifested many years after service and are not related to inservice exposure to Agent Orange or to military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it is currently rated at 10 percent and there is no evidence of severe symptoms or deformity.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not show any evidence of aggravation beyond normal progression by military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for plantar fasciitis, bilateral, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's right pes planus with deformity warranted a 30 percent evaluation on May 21, 2002. The effective date for the grant of this rating is set at May 21, 2002.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and hearing loss, do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to their combined effect.

The Board found that service connection was granted for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear injury, but denied claims for heart disorder, sinusitis, left knee disorder, hemorrhoids, and increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia and musculoskeletal low back pain. The left foot disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to military service.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied due to his failure to appear for a VA examination scheduled in April 2003 without providing good cause.