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

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to August 18, 1989 and an earlier effective date for his service-connected right foot disability are pending before the Board.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral knee and foot disabilities were not incurred in or related to his active military service. The VA examinations, National Guard records, and private medical records do not support a link between the current disabilities and service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records. The issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus remains pending.

The VA has granted increased disability evaluations for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus, with a rating of 10 percent each.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training due to his current employment and lack of an employment handicap despite having service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right foot disability, finding that the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current conditions were not related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibrositis/fibromyalgia and bilateral foot disability, finding no verified diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current right foot disability is not related to his period of service or his service-connected right lower extremity disabilities. The claims for increased evaluations were also denied as there was no evidence showing ankylosis or other disabling conditions in the hip and knee joints.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia is service-connected, and he does not have flat feet, a low back disorder, a vision disorder, a throat disorder, a left side injury, or a bilateral ankle disorder.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is not currently manifested by painful motion, edema, disturbed circulation, weakness, atrophy, tenderness, or other deformity. The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of a low back disorder, to include lumbosacral strain. Service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions was denied as there is no indication that these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of left foot surgery with plantar fasciitis, finding that his disability is no more than moderately severe.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition, as he testified that it has increased in severity since the last examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence raises a reasonable doubt in favor of its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for decreased sensation, left medial thumb associated with laceration, left index finger with repair of tendons and nerves cannot be earlier than September 18, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, a moderate condition, warrants an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 30 percent.

The Board found that the appellant's preexisting flat feet were not aggravated by active service and granted service connection for flat feet.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The left knee disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the veteran sought higher ratings.