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

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it was determined that the veteran's current condition is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely file a Substantive Appeal regarding his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a dental disability caused by VA treatment, and thus lacks jurisdiction to review this issue. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for psoriatic arthritis of the left thumb, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee were denied as they did not meet the criteria for the assigned rating levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with calluses, arthritis of the left shoulder, and arthritis of both knees. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from September 9, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and an initial compensable rating was not granted for the bilateral pes planus with hind foot valgus and plantar heel spur. The RO also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, left hip disability, a right elbow and/or forearm disability (other than carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist), separated symphysis pubis, costochondritis, athlete's foot fungus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for pes planus and gout, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and bilateral flat feet conditions were denied. His claim for higher ratings of his service-connected left foot condition was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite residuals of the right third finger, and denied compensable disability ratings for pes planus and contact dermatitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected pes planus does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as he is able to engage in sedentary employment.

The veteran's low back disorder is rated as moderate intervertebral disc syndrome and has been granted a 20 percent rating since September 23, 2002.,Left plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent from the effective date of service connection to the present.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with bunions, finding that his disability more nearly approximates the criteria for this rating.

The Board granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The veteran was also granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for low back strain, right foot plantar fasciitis with ankle pain, seborrheic dermatitis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and ischemic heart disease with hypertension.

The Board found that the veteran's flat feet were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, finding no persuasive medical nexus evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or any link to service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred or aggravated by active service, as it existed prior to service and did not worsen during his final tour of duty.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus, left foot as of March 17, 2005. The issue of degenerative joint disease of the left foot is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 9, 2002, as there was no evidence of an increase in disability that occurred within one year before the November 29, 2002, filing date.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with a history of weak feet, finding that the disability was manifested by severe bilateral pes planus with marked deformity.