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

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus was congenital and did not increase in severity during military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is at least as likely as not related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's bilateral pes planus with bunion deformities and metatarsalgia, finding that his disability did not warrant a higher rating than the current 30 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected post operative scar and recurrent tumor of the plantar surface of the left foot, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and clarification of whether arthritis of the feet is part of the same disability as pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding issues and need for additional development.

The veteran's left foot injury with traumatic arthritis of the ankle, hallux valgus/bunion, and metatarsalgia/plantar fasciitis has been granted a 30 percent evaluation from October 21, 1992. The multiple fractures of the left lower extremity have also been granted a 30 percent evaluation from January 1, 1992 (excluding periods of temporary total evaluations).

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected bilateral foot and skin disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions, including a low back disorder and disabilities of the feet. The veteran is required to provide medical evidence or nexus statements regarding these claims.

The Board has determined that additional medical nexus opinions are required to determine if the veteran's current disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and low back strain, are related to his military service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have hypertension or a bilateral foot disability during service, and there is no evidence to support a finding of such conditions being related to active service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet were increased to a 30 percent evaluation effective February 28, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not become permanently aggravated by his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for the service-connected low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus should be remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 6, 2000, for his TDIU due to service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus. The evidence did not show that he was unemployable prior to January 6, 2000.

The veteran's service connection claims for pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as depression, were denied. The claim for a higher initial rating for low back disability was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected foot disabilities. The RO will also review whether separate ratings are warranted for musculoskeletal and skin conditions of the feet.