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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral foot disabilities, including flat feet and plantar fasciitis, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service.

The veteran's cervical spine strain is related to an in-service accident. The veteran does not have a left foot disability or right foot disability manifested by numbness and tingling related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, right and left knee disorders, and bilateral hearing loss disorder. The decision found that there was no current disability related to these conditions, and thus denied them.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot disability, characterized by flattened arch with weightbearing, some arch tenderness, a well-healed scar, and a pronounced limp, warrants a 20 percent rating under DC 5276 for unilateral severe flatfoot.

The veteran's service-connected pes planus was not shown to be pronounced, with marked pronation, extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces of the feet, with marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo Achilles on manipulation. The assigned rating as of November 1, 2005, incorporates a 10 percent deduction for the veteran's pre-service pes planus disability.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, was not aggravated by service, and his residuals of stress fractures of the left and right feet were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The knee and hip disorders were also not related to service, nor did arthritis manifest within a year of discharge. The low back disorder was also not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and service connection for a back condition, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis have been rated at 10 percent since July 10, 2003. The disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service records and arranging for a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The RO found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, and his left knee condition also did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and right foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service. The available evidence does not support a finding of chronicity, aggravation, or any other form of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions related to service and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressor events.

The veteran does not have a current right ankle or tibia/fibula disability related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a current residual disability from the in-service right tibia/fibula fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and right foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service. The available evidence does not support a finding of chronicity, aggravation, or any other form of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disorder, and thus the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is denied.,Plantar fasciitis/heel spurring was incurred in active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot/ankle condition and granted an increased rating for his left foot disability. The decision is mixed as it addresses both issues.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal in October 2008.