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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or a disability manifested by flat feet related to service. The claims for increased ratings are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, right knee disorder, pes planus, residuals of a jaw injury, migraine headaches (claimed as secondary to jaw injury), and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hallux valgus of both feet associated with bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing mild pes planus did not increase in severity during his period of active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left foot disabilities, finding that they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a back disorder secondary to pes planus, finding no new and material evidence presented. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for either condition.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been fully granted, and you are now receiving a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the severity of the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and whether his hernia is secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities. The case will be returned for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence. The veteran's claim involves an initial rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected pes planus.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including plantar calluses with hallux valgus and arthritis of the metatarsophalangeal joints of both feet, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar of the right thigh, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted. However, the claim for an unspecified left hip condition is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 15, 2004 for his service-connected severe hallux abducto valgus deformity with severe deformity of the metatarsals and toes.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's preexisting flat feet with valgus heels, finding that his condition was aggravated by military service. The claim is now considered reopened and granted.

The veteran's service connection claims for chronic headaches, left knee disability, Grave's disease, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus with right hallux deformity were granted. The initial ratings assigned are 20 percent for the left knee, 10 percent for Graves' disease, no rating for hypertension (as it is controlled by medication), and a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus and right hallux valgus.

The veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 70%, but the Board finds that he can still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disorders and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not secondary to his in-service foot problems. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at December 21, 1995.

The veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including a right shoulder disability rated at 40 percent disabling. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, nervous condition (mental health), organic brain syndrome and dementia, and left shoulder disability were all denied. The VA examiner concluded that the current conditions are not related to active service.

The Board found that the veteran's left hand and left foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of pes planus or peptic ulcer disease, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.