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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and gastritis. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during service. The right foot and eye disability claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability, pes planus with hallux valgus and plantar fasciitis, was granted. The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities (chondromalacia patella and DJD) were not found to warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's PTSD was also granted but did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is manifested by severe symptoms, including pain and swelling. After considering all evidence, the Board has determined that a 30 percent evaluation is warranted for this disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's TDIU claim, but has remanded for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation. The issue of service connection for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current plantar fasciitis is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right and left trapezius strains, right hip strain, left hip strain, and a disability characterized by edema of the lower extremities (claimed as right and left thigh pain) are all found to be proximately due to her service-connected migraine headaches. Service connection for additional right and left knee disabilities is denied as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is also denied as it was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine, right foot, and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for pes planus is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot disability and left knee disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the groin area, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected plantar/verruca warts. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine if there is any relationship between the groin cancer and his in-service conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was a congenital defect and aggravated by his military service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral pes planus were denied. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was also denied as it is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, with surgical realignment of the metatarsal arches, is manifested by characteristic callosities and tenderness on the plantar surface. The Board has determined that an initial rating of 30 percent for this disability is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating codes. The Board found that he did not have moderate ankle disability, marked limitation of motion, or ankylosis of the right ankle.