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

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, to include pes planus, and his appeal for an initial higher rating for bilateral hearing loss are both being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder or flat feet that is related to service. The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was characterized as 'nerves' and/or bipolar disorder, which the Board determined were not incurred in or aggravated by service. For his flat feet, the Board noted there was no indication of a pre-existing condition during service and found no evidence of aggravation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic bilateral foot disability and an initial compensable evaluation for dysphagia secondary to Schatzki's ring, finding no current evidence of such disabilities related to service.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a disability of the left ankle or left foot, and thus service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants an initial rating of 30 percent, effective from when service connection was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain and bilateral flat feet do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for flat feet, and it also denied a compensable evaluation for a scar of the right scapula.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, fungal infections of both feet, and cold injury residuals. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and denied his claim for service connection. The knee disability was also denied as secondary to pes planus, and the low back disorder was denied as not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral flat feet do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as there is no evidence of moderate symptoms such as weight-bearing line over or medial to the great toe, inward bowing of the Achilles tendon, or pain on manipulation and use.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, bilateral plantar keratosis and residuals of a cold injury, are not related to service. The veteran's testimony regarding frozen feet during service was not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the right hand, and for residuals of the removal of a ganglion cyst from the left hand. However, no new and material evidence was found regarding the claim for a psychiatric disorder.