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

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral symptomatic pes planus does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pes planus was not incurred or aggravated by her active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, residuals of a left ankle strain, reactive airway disease (hypertension), residuals of a contusion of the left thigh, residuals of a left elbow injury, residuals of a left thumb injury, and low back pain. The veteran's service connection claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the veteran's right foot disability and an increased rating to at least 30 percent for his left foot injury.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's chronic headaches. The veteran's current headaches are not etiologically related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have disability of the feet, knees, hips, or back that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The Board granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's right plantar fasciitis as of April 30, 2007. Prior to that date, the disability was rated non-compensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral calcaneal spurs are likely related to his service, including his complaints of foot pain and diagnoses of pes cavus and plantar fasciitis during service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and low back disability, to include arthritis. The claim of service connection for hyperlipidemia remains denied as no new evidence was received that could relate to an underlying physical disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for insomnia, a throat disorder, and a right foot disability. The remaining issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities and an initial compensable evaluation for pes planus, left foot are remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, a chronic respiratory disorder (lung), or a bilateral foot disability. The veteran's claimed hand disability is also denied as it is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current back and foot conditions are related to service. The VA will conduct further examination and review of the claims file.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus and related ankle, knee, and hip disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The examiner must determine if the pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by active military service and whether any current hip, knee, or ankle disabilities are secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, skin disability (other than cysts), sinus disability (including allergic rhinitis), residuals of a broken nose, and pes planus are not related to his active service. The low back disability is related to his active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches was denied as there is no evidence of an underlying disease or injury to account for the headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, pes planus, sinusitis, and arthritis as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus results in no more than moderate disability, and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of flat feet or gingivitis and stomatitis, as there is no evidence of such conditions in service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.