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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and denied a claim for an increased rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet and finds that the veteran's current diagnoses of left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis, left leg arthritis, right leg arthritis, and depression are not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, finding the current 30 percent rating adequately reflects the clinically established impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis warrants a rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the initial decision in May 2003.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for each foot due to service-connected plantar fasciitis with residuals of a great toe injury and heel spur, right foot. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet with fallen arches, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The decision found no causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The veteran's service connection claims for right forearm, hand peripheral neuropathy and chronic gastritis were granted with initial evaluations of 10 percent. Service connection was also granted for bilateral pes planus with a non-compensable evaluation. The low back disability and irritable bowel syndrome claims are pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for low back disability, chronic headache disability, rheumatoid arthritis as a result of an undiagnosed illness, and acral hyperhidrosis as a result of an undiagnosed illness.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected plantar callosities, as the evidence did not support an increase in disability beyond what was already assigned.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for his left foot injury prior to June 17, 1999 was granted. From June 17, 1999 onwards, the evaluations were granted but not in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's bilateral flexible pes planus, with metatarsus primus varus deformities and plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent. The left knee retropatellar pain syndrome is characterized as mild.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing pes planus did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for aggravation of bilateral pes planus.,There is no evidence showing any current dental disability related to military service. The veteran's chipped central incisors are considered new and material issues.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbosacral spine injury with traumatic arthritis and neck injury with degenerative changes, are rated at 60 percent combined. The Board finds that these disabilities reasonably show him to be precluded from participating in any regular substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating under either the percentage or extraschedular standards.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a back disability, as well as his claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his shell fragment wound scar of the left shoulder. The decision also granted service connection for burn scars of the fingers but assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation.,The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a back disability, as well as his claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his shell fragment wound scar of the left shoulder. The decision also granted service connection for burn scars of the fingers but assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disorder, hip disorder, left hand nerve damage, generalized arthritis, hypertension, psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disability, digestive disorder, and foot disability. The conditions are presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is manifested by pronation and extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces of the feet, which are not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances. The Board has determined that the disability most nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot neuroma, left leg disability, and left leg disability (including left knee) are not related to his service-connected back disability. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral flat feet. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical evidence and a more contemporaneous VA examination.