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

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet, finding that new and material evidence has been received since the last denial. The Board also found that the veteran's flat feet were incurred in service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral pes planus was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that his pre-existing pes planus and plantar fasciitis did not worsen during active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran is seeking to reopen her claim for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder and is also seeking increased ratings for other conditions. The case has been remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of severe deformity or swelling.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent effective December 9, 2002. His varicose veins of the right leg were rated at 10 percent prior to June 10, 2003 and increased to 30 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus of the right foot, and hallux valgus of the left foot. The disability ratings were not changed as they already reflected the severity of the conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's plantar fasciitis of the left foot is etiologically related to his military service and granted the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and flat feet (pes planus), finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus the claims were not reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ganglion cyst of the right wrist, bilateral pes planus, and left knee strain. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis of the left foot, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for service-connected flat feet was denied. The Board found that the correct effective date is April 25, 2003, based on the reopened claim received in April 2003.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is shown to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates pronounced impairment, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, but the RO denied an increased rating.,His anxiety disorder was not evaluated as compensable.

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus did not undergo aggravation during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's anxiety reaction is rated at 50 percent, and his bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent. The appeal for a TDIU remains pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for accrued benefits due to lack of new and material evidence for several service connection claims, including conjunctivitis, plantar warts, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including post-traumatic stress disorder), allergic rhinitis, and arthritis.

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus did not increase in severity during service and denied his claim for service connection.