Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA treatment records and a VA medical examination to determine the current status and severity of his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The veteran's bilateral foot disability has been productive of pes planus valgus deformity with pronounced loss of the arches that visibly collapse on weightbearing, symptomatic gastrocnemius equinus deformity with bowing of the Achilles tendons and limitation of ankle motion. Despite multiple surgeries, his disability continues to worsen.

The veteran does not currently have disabilities of the neck, low back, right knee, left knee, or right foot. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities as a result of service, and therefore denied this claim. The issue of bilateral pes planus is remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate her service-connected pes planus with chronic plantar fasciitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a back injury, lung disability, and pes planus. The claim for residuals of a back injury was previously denied in 1956 and no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen it. There is insufficient medical evidence to establish current lung or pes planus disabilities that are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the veteran's right foot pain and whether it is related to his service-connected right knee total arthroplasty.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes cavus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent. The hip and ankle arthritis were not shown to be related to military service, and the feet arthritis was not shown to have been incurred during active duty.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury to the feet and insufficient medical nexus between any current disability and service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for each foot, effective March 13, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action on all three issues: increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus, service connection for a psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus, and total rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability.

The Board finds that the veteran's disability picture is not consistent with the criteria for a higher rating, and his appeal for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and tinea pedis and onychomycosis of both feet is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for pes planus and service connection for hallux valgus, but granted service connection for hammer toes on a secondary basis.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no clinical diagnosis of the condition. The claims for foot disability and hearing loss are addressed in a separate remand.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot disorder, specifically pes planus with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, is productive of moderately severe disablement. The initial disability evaluations for both feet have been granted at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's flat feet do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule. The preponderance of evidence does not support an initial 10% rating, which is required for moderate bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and denied service connection for folliculitis, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness.