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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of her disabilities and any exposure in service.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder and denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for sinusitis.

The veteran's foot disabilities (stress fractures of the right and left heels due to plantar fasciitis) were denied an increased rating as they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and a right foot disability were granted based on evidence of in-service symptoms, current diagnoses, and medical opinions linking the conditions to active duty.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent disability rating for plantar fasciitis of the right foot, effective from July 30, 2001.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was granted an evaluation of 50 percent based on severe symptomatology, including tenderness, pronation, deformity, and pain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD and a bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, disabilities of the wrists and fingers, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and fungal infection of the feet do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, nor does he qualify for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim has been received, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability is being remanded for further development before readjudicating the claim on the underlying merits.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a low back disability, hearing loss, a right knee disability, residuals of a cyst of the right second finger, and residuals of dental trauma as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran currently has any of these disabilities or that they are related to her period of active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability was denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and increased ratings for plantar callosities, bilateral 5th toes, and residual scar of surgical removal of left 5th toe callus were denied.

The veteran's PTSD is manifested by hypervigilance, intrusive memories, social isolation, depressed mood, sleep impairment, night sweats, and irritability. The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was reopened based on new and material evidence, but the underlying matter of his actual entitlement to service connection is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, hypertension, and did not find new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture.

The veteran's residuals of injury to the right plantaris tendon are manifested by weakness and continuous pain with X-ray evidence of chronic swelling about the right ankle, but there is no probative evidence of a marked ankle limitation of motion or a moderately severe foot injury. Therefore, entitlement to a higher rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or establish service connection.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was granted a rating of 30 percent, as the evidence showed marked valgus deviation of the Achilles tendon that could not be manually corrected, painful motion, and tenderness.