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

The veteran's PTSD was found to be characterized by sleep impairment, depressed mood, anxiety, anger, hypervigilance, isolative behavior, nightmares, irritability, and intrusive thoughts. However, the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability as there was no evidence linking the current condition to an injury in service or any other incident of service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for right foot and left foot disability, left knee disability, and back disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and pes planus (flat feet) were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence regarding the veteran's service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for right heel spur with plantar fasciitis and left plantar fasciitis as there was no evidence of a medical relationship between the current disabilities and the veteran's military service.

The veteran was granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, abdominal scar and vulvar scar with a 10 percent rating assigned. The claims for service connection for atherosclerosis, peripheral enthesopathy, and periodontal disease were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for low back strain, right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, hemorrhoids, and bilateral pes planus were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's pes planus is not more than moderate, and the overall functional impairment of each foot is less than moderate. Therefore, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral flat foot, plantar fasciitis and heel spurs has not been met.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the March 1974 administrative decision that the veteran's discharge was not a bar to VA benefits, and denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits.

The veteran's initial rating for bilateral metatarsalgia with plantar tendonitis was increased to 30 percent, as the evidence showed severe symptoms including pain and functional loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the pre-existing condition was aggravated during active service.

The appeal was remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the veteran's in-service physical therapy records.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right shoulder dislocation, an ear canal infection, and a right ankle fracture. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for fractured right iliac crest and femur and right heel plantar spur were also denied.

The veteran's right knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability was granted. The left knee and both feet were not found to warrant compensable ratings.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was remanded for further development, including the provision of a VA examination.

The Board denied an evaluation greater than 10 percent for plantar fasciitis with bilateral bunion deformity, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability on a secondary basis and an increased rating for his right foot disability.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for service-connected bilateral pes planus is being remanded for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.