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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action due to allegations of worsening foot conditions and hearing loss, as well as the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a foot and ankle disability characterized as pes planus, bilateral knee disability characterized as chondromalacia, hypertension, and tinnitus. The evidence received since the February 1975 Board decision was not considered sufficient to reopen any of these claims.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent since February 14, 2007. This is the highest possible rating under VA guidelines.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred right foot painful heel pad with plantar fasciitis, hemorrhoids, and sinusitis during his service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected onychomycosis and dermatophytosis, finding that the current 10 percent disability rating adequately reflects the severity of his skin conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's bilateral heel spurs with plantar fasciitis, finding that his disability reflects no more than moderate impairment in each foot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a stomach disability, right knee disability, right knee scar, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and bilateral foot disability, were not incurred or aggravated by his active service. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology after discharge for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and additional VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for pes planus and plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur and hyperkeratotic lesions, right foot, and for an effective date prior to January 6, 2000, for service connection of pes planus and plantar fasciitis with hyperkeratotic lesions, left foot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as there is no evidence of marked deformity or significant functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current foot condition was aggravated by his active duty service.

The veteran's plantar fasciitis of the right foot has been rated at 20 percent since August 4, 1998. The Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's initial evaluations for pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left knee disability (meniscus tear), and chronic bronchitis have been denied.,The RO has not assigned any compensable ratings to the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA Prosthetics records and a VA orthopedics examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin cancer, sterility, flat feet, peripheral neuropathy and gout, and hypertension. The appeals were based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board is remanding the claims to reopen for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence in prior denials, and will provide further notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his bilateral pes planus has been remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing. The current evaluation is at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral flat feet is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral foot disability that he believes is related to his service in Vietnam. The RO denied the claim, and the case is now remanded for further development.