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

The Board found that the veteran's left foot disability warranted a 20 percent evaluation, but denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral flat feet and ankle problems.

The Board has determined that the veteran's genu varum is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee, and granted service connection for this condition. Service connection for genu varum of the right knee was denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected residuals of bilateral surgical correction of hammertoes and granted a separate 10 percent rating for the service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD, and his flat feet, Bell's palsy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all related to service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied a claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected plantar warts of the bilateral feet, finding no current evidence of these conditions and noting that separate ratings were not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional development, including seeking treatment records from Chandler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, and obtaining service department verification of the veteran's periods of active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a social and industrial survey. The case will also be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Services for consideration of an extraschedular rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The VA denied an increase in the rating for bilateral pes planus, as it is currently rated at 30 percent and considered severe.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ear hearing loss, and thus grants secondary service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The veteran's left foot disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and his bilateral flat feet are also rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that these evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for service-connected bilateral pes planus, which is the maximum rating allowed under the applicable criteria.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his attempt to reopen the pes planus claim was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues related to service connection for asbestosis, and ratings for plantar fasciitis of the right foot and chondromalacia patella of the right knee. The appeals are not yet decided.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left pelvis fracture and bilateral shin splints, and also denied an increased evaluation for plantar fasciitis of the left foot. The veteran's current disability ratings remain at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and plantar fasciitis, effective from March 2006. The veteran previously had a 30% rating prior to that date.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and thus service connection for PTSD cannot be granted. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral plantar warts remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying dates of active duty. The veteran's right foot disability will be evaluated based on whether it is related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss, which preexisted his entry into service, underwent a clinically identifiable permanent increase in severity during his initial period of active service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.