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

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of an unauthorized purchase of a patient lift system was denied as there is no legal basis for such reimbursement.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the right foot ulcer and related complications are not related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, and hiatal hernia are being remanded for further development to determine the current severity of each condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus is denied, and his claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis is also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed before rendering a decision on the merits as VA will notify the veteran if additional action is required.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of right and left tibial stress reactions, and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a PTSD diagnosis consistent with DSM-IV and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for left foot disability. The claim of reopening the left foot disability claim is granted, but the underlying merits are deferred pending further development.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his right wrist sprain and bilateral pes planus were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied pes planus (bilateral foot condition) was not supported by new and material evidence, thus denying the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus and TDIU based on back and hip disabilities and depression. The veteran was found not to meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and it was determined that he did not have sufficient additional disability in other conditions to bring his combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus and Achilles tendonitis were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, a stomach disorder, and prostate cancer. The veteran's claim for pes planus was not supported by evidence of pre-existing condition or aggravation in service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to his time in service.,The appeal of the rating for seborrheic dermatitis was dismissed due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The Board also determined that he did not have any current disabilities involving the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, hips, knees or ankles due to disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is related to service, and granted a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The appeal concerning an increased rating for the fracture of the second toe with osteoarthritis and capsulitis of distal interphalangeal joint, mallet toe, was withdrawn by the veteran.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, but his service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's left foot pes planus is not related to his service-connected chronic thrombophlebitis of the left femoral vein and denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a nonservice-connected pension due to his service not occurring during a period of war or in the Persian Gulf War, and thus denied the claim.