Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2007

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for bilateral foot disability and diabetes mellitus, as well as a failure to provide proper VCAA notice. Additional development is required including obtaining VA medical records, private physician records, and conducting a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for left plantar warts and service connection for Meniere's disease, including as secondary to his service-connected right ear hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's right foot and leg disabilities, as well as residuals of head trauma, did not occur in service or for many years thereafter. The claims were denied.

The veteran's pes planus does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating of 50 percent as there is no evidence of marked pronation, inward displacement or spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation. The current 30 percent rating remains appropriate.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction with post-gastrectomy syndrome and bilateral pes planus were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right foot disabilities, including pes cavus, as they are not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable or higher rating for his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral spine spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, right wrist tendonitis, and left wrist tendonitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missing service medical records and insufficient supporting evidence.

The veteran's claims for hypothyroidism, sensory axonal polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, bunions, plantars warts, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, shin splints, and left shoulder anthralgia were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected torn meniscus of the right knee and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as there was no evidence of moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability in the knees.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis warrants a 10 percent initial disability rating, effective from the date of the August 2001 decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not meet the minimum service requirements, and his separation from service was due to a congenital condition that preexisted service.

The VA granted the veteran a 10 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, effective from August 20, 2003. The condition is characterized by mild functional impairment and X-ray evidence of severe flatfoot deformity in each foot.

The veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.,There is no competent evidence of current active hepatitis B or residuals of any hepatitis B infection treated during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis warrants a 30 percent disability rating, effective from September 2005.

The veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 40 percent disabling, but his claims for increased evaluations and service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting pes planus increased in severity due to his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for bilateral pes planus. The issue of generalized osteoarthritis is REMANDED.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of fracture of the left calcaneus with plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral strain, and hypertension. The RO found that the current disability ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.