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

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has granted a 30 percent rating based on severe disability.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a postoperative right foot disability, and a right knee disorder. The claims were not reopened due to the lack of new and material evidence.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection was reopened, and he was granted a 10% rating for residuals of removal of plantar callous on the left foot effective from November 29, 2000. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for cardiac disease is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain is related to her service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for flat feet remains pending.

The veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically severe pes planus with residuals of injury to the left foot, is now rated at 50 percent due to pronounced deformity and pain.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible disability rating of 100 percent, and her bilateral pes planus remains at a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's death was caused by cardio-respiratory arrest, with atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive vascular disease contributing substantially to his death. The appellant has established that the veteran had internment as a POW for at least 30 days, which qualifies him for presumptive service connection under the revised regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of residuals of a fracture of the left fibula, service connection for hernia, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral eye and foot disabilities are denied as there is no evidence to support the assertions made.

The Board has granted an extension of a temporary total convalescent rating beyond November 30, 2003 for the veteran's left foot bunionectomy with pin. The increased rating claim for bilateral pes planus remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and denied pes planus, but the decision is mixed as it grants an increased rating for residuals of pleurisy.

The veteran's service-connected left foot disability was characterized by pain and weakness to the flexor apparatus of the second and third toes prior to February 14, 2005. As of February 14, 2005, there were additional neurological symptoms such as numbness and involuntary jerking movement in his foot. The decision denied an evaluation greater than 10 percent for the disability prior to February 14, 2005, but granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for the scar related to the left foot wound.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, bipolar disorder, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and macular hole in the right eye. The TDIU and nonservice-connected pension claims have also been denied.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the reopened claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including an examination of the veteran's feet and a psychiatric evaluation.

The veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently evaluated at 10 percent, which contemplates moderate flatfoot with the weight-bearing line being over or medial to the great toe. The medical evidence does not show that manifestations of the current foot disorder meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral plantar fibromatosis were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for varicose veins of the lower extremities, pes planus, and low back pain due to failure to appear for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including affording the veteran a VA examination and addressing the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The veteran was not provided with proper VCAA notice regarding disability ratings and effective dates.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical diagnosis of pes planus, and therefore denied the veteran's claim for service connection.