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

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining service medical records and a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current right foot disability was aggravated by in-service marching.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle with plantar calcaneal spur, status post open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture, warrants a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that any of the listed conditions were related to the veteran's service.

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by military service, thus denying his claim for service connection. The disability manifested by pain and stiffness of the hands is also denied as there is no clear evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus was denied as the current evaluation of 30 percent adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that his service-connected disabilities had increased in severity within one year prior to filing the TDIU claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fungus of the feet and bilateral pes planus have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection in either case.,Newly submitted evidence has raised a reasonable possibility that the veteran's claims can be substantiated, but the existing evidence is insufficient to establish service connection.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, low back disability, heart disorder (pericarditis), bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and hallux valgus of the feet. The veteran's preexisting conditions were not shown to be aggravated by military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and did not address service connection claims for diabetes mellitus or bilateral eye disability.

The veteran's low back disability with left leg radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and left hip disability were all granted. However, the veteran was denied increased ratings for these conditions. The veteran also received service connection for bilateral pes planus but not for a psychiatric condition or a left leg disability secondary to his hip disability.

The veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting one or two incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sinusitis, neck disability, back disability, and left foot disability as there is no current evidence of these conditions or a relationship to military service.

The veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus II, prostate disability, and left ankle and foot disability with a secondary right ankle disability were denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or chronic conditions within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current plantar warts and that any past occurrences are unrelated to his service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma pre-existed her military service and was not aggravated by it. The foot disability is also considered to be a direct result of her military service, as she had flat feet and bunions which were exacerbated during her time in the Army.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and a compensable rating (10%) for his skin disorder, pyoderma. The criteria for these ratings are based on the current manifestations of the conditions as supported by medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for non-service-connected pension benefits prior to September 17, 2001. The effective date of the award was set at September 17, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her service-connected neck injury, right knee pain, and pes planus. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for her residuals of a neck injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for service-connected pes planus and service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with history of plantar fasciitis, which approximates no more than moderate bilateral pes planus.