Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral plantar fasciitis disability is not related to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues except the ones related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these remaining issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand tremors, a heart disability, a low back disability, a foot disability, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower extremity disabilities, including bilateral ankle instability, right foot plantar faciitis, degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis, are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee have all been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current plantar fasciitis or any other service-connected bilateral foot disability. The stress fractures and heel spur are found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral foot disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as his combined disability rating is 80 percent, which does not meet the required percentage threshold. The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection and increased evaluations related to hiatal hernia, dental condition, hypertension, heart murmur, low back injury, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral pes planus, left knee chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease, and right knee chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right femur fracture did not worsen during service and was not aggravated by his service. The other claimed conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, knee, and ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected pes planus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus did not cause or aggravate these other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include degenerative joint disease, advanced pes planus, and hallux valgus with bunion formation, secondary to right knee instability, status post meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease, was denied. The Board found no competent evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder. The Veteran is therefore granted this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing service treatment records and needs further examination to determine if her current pes planus of the right foot is related to service, including activities such as running, marching, and prolonged standing. The same applies to her hallux valgus.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus was not shown in service or reported until 2007, and the Board finds it not related to service. The appeal for tinnitus is also denied.,Bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for this condition is denied.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for plantar tylomas on the balls and medial halluces of both feet, finding that current symptomatology did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The decision is mixed, as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fevers, chilly feelings, dyssomnia, aching joints, and a skin condition have been denied as there is no objective evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence, including VAMC treatment records and SSA disability benefits information. A VA examination will also be scheduled to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus.