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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability, characterized by painful callosities and deformity of the toes, is rated at 50 percent under Diagnostic Code 5278. The RO found that this condition approximates the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, but denied service connection for bilateral pes planus. The veteran's bilateral foot disorder is believed to have developed due to repetitive use injuries over time.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video teleconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Atlanta, Georgia RO. The issues include reopening his claim for bilateral pes planus and seeking service connection for various disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and initial compensable evaluations for hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease of the left foot and hallux valgus of the right foot. The veteran's pre-existing pes planus was not aggravated by active duty, and there is no evidence of an increase in severity during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for her scar residuals from excision of neuroma, plantar aspect, left foot and a higher rating for her service-connected left foot callous. The RO found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for the scar under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling an examination, adjudicating increased disability ratings claims, and readjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, right third finger trigger finger due to cold injury, and foot pain and tingling/numbness of toes due to cold injury. The veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated during service.

The veteran's service-connected pes planus, which is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, has been found to be productive of pronounced impairment but does not meet the criteria for an increased rating as there are no exceptional or unusual disability factors warranting such a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left subtalar coalition and bilateral pes planus. However, additional development is required due to inextricably intertwined issues regarding service connection for left leg shortening and a back disorder secondary to foot disorders. The RO must obtain a VA examination to evaluate whether preexisting foot disorders were aggravated by military service and determine if the veteran has any new or worsened conditions related to his service-connected foot disorders.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition. The initial rating assigned for the service-connected urethral stricture is increased to 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot fracture, pes planus, and tinea pedis. The evidence did not show current disabilities or any link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritic changes at the metatarsal heads, and bilateral leg disability with degenerative joint disease of the knees are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus deformity of the left foot, as it found that the condition warranted only a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for plantar warts of the right and left feet, as well as his basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, are being remanded. Additionally, he is seeking an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating and a higher rating for his back disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, cervical spine, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees and ankles, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease are all denied as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 14, 2001, for service connection for bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus as his initial claim was received more than one year after discharge from active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus is no more than moderate in degree and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating prior to November 6, 2000. The effective date of the TDIU rating was set at November 6, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic, respiratory, and cardiovascular disabilities. The right wrist disability was not related to military service, nor were the low back or bilateral knee disabilities. The bilateral foot disability (plantar warts) was linked to active duty. Hypertension was not shown to be related to military service.