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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left foot disorder other than the service-connected residuals of fractures of the left second and third metatarsals, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral flat feet do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as they are currently manifested by objective evidence of marked deformity and pain on manipulation and use accentuated.

The veteran was in receipt of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities since January 26, 1996. The appellant's claim for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) is denied as the criteria have not been met.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a June 1990 rating decision that denied service connection for pes planus, finding no evidence to support the allegation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension due to a lack of evidence supporting his unemployability claims.

The Board denied service connection for cold injury residuals of the feet and declined to reopen claims for pes planus and tinea cruris of the groin due to lack of competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current left foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected plantar warts of the left foot, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, effective March 13, 2001. The RO granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for the disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his flat feet existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further hearing and review.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral sties, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as chronic adjustment disorder), and a skin condition due to palmar/plantar pustular psoriasis and onychomycosis. The veteran's service records do not show any indication of sties during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to obtain Social Security Administration records. The veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is being reviewed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine/neck disorder, bilateral pes planus, and right trapezius strain. The VA determined that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, right foot disability, and hearing loss disability remain under review.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, which is of moderate impairment with pain but no marked deformity or characteristic callosities, warrants a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral hallux valgus with metatarsalgia and denied a compensable rating for pes planus.

The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the veteran's service and his current left foot disability or lumbar spine disorder. The Board concluded that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in either case.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected dysesthesias, medial plantar cutaneous nerve. The fracture, left calcaneus, post operative condition remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea with cor pulmonale, polycythemia (claimed as secondary to sleep apnea), bilateral foot problems including pes planus and calcaneal spurs, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The reasons are that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the claimed conditions and service.