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

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and residuals of a left knee injury with noncompensable ratings. A 10 percent rating was assigned for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, and his service-connected disability does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain with intervertebral disc syndrome, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was dismissed due to the assignment of a compensable rating for his plantar warts.

The Board found that the appellant's foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as there was no evidence to support a higher rating or that any of the claimed conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a low back disability, and flat feet as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Board also denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heat exhaustion and fainting as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, kidney stones, defective vision, chronic obstipation, and arthritis of multiple joints were denied. The Veteran was granted a 50% evaluation for major depression from November 17, 2004.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 29, 2006, for the increase to a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis based on evidence showing spasm of the Achilles tendons.

The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for flat feet, a skin disorder of the face due to shaving, hypertension, a visual disorder, and a chronic headache disorder.

The veteran was granted a 30 percent initial rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, with degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right foot was denied, and there is no legal entitlement to an effective date prior to August 15, 2002 for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected left heel disability was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, but the hammertoes and degenerative changes of the left toes were determined to be aggravated by the service-connected left heel condition.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection as new and material evidence was not submitted, and there is no current diagnosis of a rash on the bilateral feet or low back arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a thoracic muscle strain with compression fractures of the thoracic spine, but remanded claims for bilateral pes planus and recurrent headaches for further development.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy, and pes planus conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is not shown to be more than mild in severity, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.