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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 31, 2001 for service connection of a left foot disability. The decision was based on the fact that the veteran did not appeal the denial in 1994 and filed a new application to reopen his claim in 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a neurological condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, and skin condition. The veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The lumbar spine, right shoulder, right foot, and left knee disabilities are rated at the highest possible levels under the applicable criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disability but denied the claim for a right shoulder disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not undergo aggravation during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability. The veteran's current shoulder disability is related to an in-service injury, and the medical evidence supports this finding.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and pes planus, are of such severity that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities were denied. Service connection was also denied for his pre-existing pes planus. The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for status post pelvic injury with residual of asymmetry of symphysis pubis was not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not show severe manifestations as required for a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing both issues regarding higher ratings for low back disc disease and right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further evidentiary and procedural development due to the need to obtain SSA disability determination records.

The Board has determined that a remand is required for the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection for left foot, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The veteran must be given an opportunity to file a timely substantive appeal as to his initial evaluation of his service-connected left foot disability.

The veteran's cluster migraine headaches were incurred during her active duty service and are considered service connected. The Board has also found that the veteran's major depressive disorder/dysthymia is proximately due to her service-connected cluster migraine headache disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted prior to June 16, 1998, but not more than 40 percent from that date onwards. Service connection for a left knee condition and bilateral calf disability were also denied.

The veteran's initial ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral pes planus have been granted at 30 percent each, effective from the day following her retirement from service.

The veteran's claim for higher evaluations for his right knee conditions and a TDIU was denied. His service-connected conditions include arthritis, multiple arthroscopy surgeries, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, prostatitis, hemorrhoids, chondromalacia patella, and traumatic arthritis of the right knee.

The Board found that the veteran's discharge from his second period of service was under dishonorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, including drug abuse. The bilateral foot disability and PTSD were not determined to be related to this period of service.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated as mild and not service-connected. The right shoulder disorder and low back disorder are also not service-connected.