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

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were partially denied, with some issues remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied due to the lack of evidence supporting a current disability or sufficient in-service incurrence.

The veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) was denied, but the case was referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent due to pronounced symptomatology, including marked pronation and pain on manipulation.

The Board remands the case to obtain a VA medical examination and opinion regarding whether pes planus was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for meningitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, a low back disability, plantar fasciitis, hearing loss, and tinnitus as well as for a respiratory disorder characterized by 'breathing problems' and vertigo, finding no evidence of these conditions during the veteran's active military service or any relationship to her service.

The veteran's service-connected GERD is not manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, and is not productive of considerable health impairment. The veteran's claimed right ventricular conduction relay was not incurred during active service. Bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss were also not incurred during active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a bilateral knee disorder were remanded for further development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for residuals of bilateral ankle sprains and chronic bilateral foot disability to obtain additional evidence, including service medical records from the first period of service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of the record.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or establish a link between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no relationship between the veteran's present knee conditions and his service or service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and right foot disability were denied, as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the disabilities were related to his military service. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability and the post-service medical evidence does not show that he has received a diagnosis or been treated for any type of foot condition.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for atopic dermatitis and 20 percent for the right thumb disability, but found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for old stress fracture of the left tibia.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a bilateral foot disability, low back pain, and sleep apnea were denied as the conditions were not related to his active service.

The veteran's pes planus was found to be moderate, not severe enough to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied the claims as not well grounded; there has been no timely filed motion to re-adjudicate in accordance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, as there was no chronic foot disorder in service or within one year of discharge and no current foot disability etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis, pes planus and heel spurs from September 1, 2003, to December 8, 2004, and since February 1, 2005. The Board found that the veteran's disability picture more approximated the criteria for a 10 percent rating.