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

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional examinations and service records, as well as a local RO hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's pes planus is also denied as secondary to his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the case on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral pes planus was increased from 30 to 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found no evidence of additional impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's left leg and foot disabilities, including arthritis, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that they are related to service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including hips, knees and feet, that he claims are secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The Board finds the case requires additional development as there is conflicting medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, residuals of right ankle injury, and right foot disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board determined that the Veteran's flat feet existed prior to his military service and did not undergo an increase in severity during service. The Board also found no evidence of a current bilateral knee disability or bilateral eye disorder related to service. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, right and left knee disorders, urinary disorder, sinus disorder, bronchial disorder, psychiatric disorder, and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's service records did not show any evidence of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a remand for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, arranging for an examination, and considering whether to grant an extra-schedular rating.

The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was permanently aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any Diagnostic Code. The right foot disability was denied as service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his right foot disability was denied. The Board found that prior to February 2, 2005, the Veteran's plantar fasciitis of the right foot did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is being remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including confirmation of her Army Reserve service dates and an opinion on whether her current left foot disability was aggravated by her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for plantar warts on the right foot and denied service connection for residuals of right wrist surgery. The Veteran's claim to reopen his arthritis in both feet was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a podiatrist examination, and readjudicating the issues of service connection for plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur and heel spur and entitlement to an evaluation for tinea pedis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining worker's compensation records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, arthritis of hands, and residuals of pulmonary emboli due to new evidence received since the September 2000 rating decision. However, as these claims are still pending, no specific rating or effective date is assigned.