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

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus and associated calluses were incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,Service-connected conditions include lumbosacral strain, chondromalacia of the right and left knees, headaches, hypertension, conjunctivitis, COPD, perirectal abscess, right foot calluses, rhinitis/sinusitis, bilateral flat feet, sleep disorder, hearing loss, ankle condition, wrist condition, shin splints, positive TB test, hyperlipidemia, and left foot tendonitis.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurring warranted a 30 percent disability rating, effective February 18, 2005.

The Board found that the veteran's current right foot disability is not related to his service-connected right knee disability and denied both claims for service connection and a temporary total convalescent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected pes planus of the right foot with plantar fasciitis does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after service. The veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a current disability and insufficient medical evidence linking his claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the August 1977 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral pes planus or headaches that are related to her military service. The RO should schedule a VA examination for the veteran's claimed hypothyroidism.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disorder was denied. The veteran's pes planus was granted an increased rating of 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for bilateral pes planus and service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of a current back disorder or that it was related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot disability is related to his service-connected left foot disability and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The veteran's right foot disability was increased to a 30 percent rating, effective December 5, 2002. His left foot disability was increased to a 20 percent rating, also effective December 5, 2002.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin rashes, bilateral pes planus, stomach disorder (undiagnosed), generalized anxiety disorder, cardiovascular disorder, hypertension, left lower leg disorder, breathing problems (undiagnosed), sleep disturbances with headaches and fatigue (undiagnosed), muscle cramps and twitching joint pains (undiagnosed), and post-traumatic stress disorder were denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and stomach disorder have been reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a 10 percent rating prior to March 18, 2003, a 30 percent rating from March 18, 2003, to October 4, 2004, and a 50 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pes planus existed prior to his entry into active military service and did not undergo an increase in severity during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral plantar callosities with a history of plantar warts from January 1, 1997. The current rating is 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to be only moderate, not warranting a higher evaluation. His bilateral hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for disability.