Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and duodenal ulcer, finding that new evidence submitted since the final denial does not meet the criteria to reopen these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. Bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus were not shown to have been present in service or at any time thereafter, while the residuals of a fractured nose were granted as part of an increased evaluation. The other conditions were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have pes planus that is attributable to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip disorder, left foot or leg disorders incurred in service. The evidence is insufficient to establish these conditions.

The veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 80 percent, and the VA examiner concluded that he is capable of sedentary employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board denied TDIU as the veteran is not precluded from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The bilateral flat feet and ankle conditions are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training was denied as he does not have an employment handicap and his existing education and experience are sufficient to secure suitable employment.

The Board found that the veteran's current knee, back, and foot disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, and his right knee lateral instability and lumbosacral strain are both rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left foot disabilities, which are already rated at 20 percent each, do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling new VA examinations and requesting medical records from Fridley Medical Clinic.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a compensable (10 percent) rating for pes planus, finding that there was no medical evidence showing moderate disability at any point during the period from May 5, 1946 to January 27, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spondylosis with DDD, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus, internal derangement of the left knee with osteoarthritis changes, and osteoarthritic changes of the left hip are all found to be related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of a current kidney disorder.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral foot disability and plantar fasciitis are not related to his active service.

The Board finds insufficient medical evidence to decide the veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's pes planus, as there is no medical evidence of pes planus until many years following his discharge from service and no nexus between the condition and his active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service treatment records and to determine if there are any line of duty determinations or active duty for training/inactive duty for training records from his reserve service.