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

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition. The Board finds no evidence of the required symptoms to warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO granted higher ratings for mechanical low back pain. The veteran does not have current hypertension or heart disease, and his high cholesterol is not a compensable disability. His pes planus was noted at entry but did not worsen during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits information and VA outpatient clinic records.

The Board denied service connection for a personality disorder, a back condition, and post-operative residuals of the right foot. The issues of service connection for a back condition and a right foot disability are remanded.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowable rating under VA regulations. The other issues related to hammer toes and hallux valgus are not addressed as they were not part of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his narcolepsy and bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 80 percent for narcolepsy.

The veteran seeks service connection for foot problems, including bilateral calluses and plantar warts. The case is remanded to the RO for additional development via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the service-connected right ankle disability, including traumatic arthritis. The issue of an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for flat feet, headaches, right and left knee disorders, or a low back disorder. The claims are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension, obesity, right hip disability, left hip disability, left foot disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability. The effective date of a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence following VA hospitalization in November 1996 is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of his left 5th finger and an initial compensable rating for plantar warts. The veteran was found not to have incurred or aggravated these conditions during military service, and there is no evidence of aggravation by pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's hypertension was not rated higher than 20 percent from July 1, 2001 to August 24, 2004 and a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied. The veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants no more than a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for congestive heart failure with hypertension and flat feet, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot and left hip disabilities, finding that these conditions are due to undiagnosed illnesses related to the veteran's active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral ankle and foot disorder, including pes planus, did not pre-exist service or become permanently aggravated by service. The low back strain was also not incurred during active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 13, 2001 for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral flat feet and allergic rhinitis do not warrant evaluations in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertension, bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus with bunion (right foot), and chondromalacia patella of both knees. The veteran was not granted any new disability ratings or service connection.