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

The Veteran's pes planus was found to have preexisted his entrance into active service. The Board determined that there is no current evidence of a current disability related to military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus. The evidence is in equipoise to warrant a finding that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is related to his active service.

The Veteran's knee and foot disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, while her fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this claim as he is deceased.

The Veteran's pes planus and hallux valgus have been rated, but he is not satisfied with the assigned ratings. The Board finds that an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her bilateral pes planus and SMC based on loss of use of both feet, finding that her service-connected bilateral pes planus is not equivalent to loss of use of both feet.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to be pronounced and manifested severe foot and leg pain that could not be relieved by orthopedic shoes or appliances, severe valgus in both feet, forefoot/midfoot malalignment, deformity of medial tilting of the upper border of the talus, and deformity of marked pronation. Therefore, a rating of 50 percent was granted effective October 16, 2006.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claims for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, heart disorder, kidney disorder, vision disorder, back disorder, right leg disorder, and pes planus. The evidence submitted since the July 2002 final rating decision did not provide new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, respiratory disability (likely COPD), and left foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective January 2005, the date of grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability (depression), are related to service. The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2007. The Board granted a combined rating of 30 percent for both feet.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, gynecological disorders (including uterine fibroids and a total abdominal hysterectomy), fibrocystic breast disease, and residuals of right ankle sprain. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to be related to her active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right great toe plantar papillomas were not present until many years after separation from service and are not among the disorders which may be presumed to have been due to exposure to herbicides. The only competent medical opinion is against the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for another VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his hammer toe disorder and to clarify whether any foot pathology is due to the hammer toe disability or pes planus. Additionally, a statement of the case must be issued regarding the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 2000 to August 2001 is granted as he meets the schedular criteria and there is probative evidence of his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus is denied as the disability does not warrant a rating higher than the maximum available under applicable diagnostic criteria. The claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disability renders him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left foot or leg disability other than the service-connected left ankle and varicose veins. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension with angina pectoris, migraines, and bilateral pes planus. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension.