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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder and left plantar fasciitis are service-connected, while his right ankle disorder is not. The skin condition of the feet with cracking feet issue was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus was not aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection. The knee and back disabilities were also denied as they are not related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing bilateral ankle, knee, or hip disability that was aggravated by service. The Veteran's pes planus is not considered to have been permanently worsened during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including providing VCAA notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the left ankle disorder was secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, pes planus was not incurred during active military service, and other claimed conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his small airway disease and bilateral heel pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records from the Veteran's prison physicians regarding his pes planus condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and bilateral flat feet disabilities were denied. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, claimed as pes planus, has been manifested by subjective complaints of pain but does not require medical treatment or the use of shoe inserts or other orthopedic devices. The disability is currently rated noncompensable under DC 5276.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for a higher rating for right knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of the current disability ratings.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and consideration due to inadequate VCAA notice regarding service-connected conditions and a condition not yet service connected.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus results in mild pronation, pain on palpation and use, swelling, and calluses. The Board has determined that the current 10% rating is appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms as per VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 5, 2002 was denied as there is no legal basis due to the unemployability being primarily due to his service-connected psychological disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it did not warrant a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet and Meniere's disease, and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for PTSD and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted. The Board found that the Veteran incurred a current condition of migraine headaches during her active military service and thus, service connection is warranted.