Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during his honorable periods of service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities. The appeal for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus with right foot valgus and arthritic change is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and a digestive system disorder. The claim to reopen his bilateral foot disability was also denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during his military service.

All issues on appeal have been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative.

The Board has granted service connection for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation dermatitis rash and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus disability did not worsen during her military service and thus, denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting significant functional impairment and limitations on weight-bearing. The service-connected residual appendectomy scar does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the rate provided under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(m) has been granted, based on his need for aid and attendance due to multiple 100 percent ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar warts and fungus of the fingers and toes have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right hand disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or gastrointestinal disability due to service. Service connection was also not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg and foot disability, to include claimed peripheral neuropathy secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus has been denied. The case is now REMANDED due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, and the Board has found that his right knee, left foot, right foot, left hip, and low back disabilities are also related to his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal for these additional conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and found that it was aggravated by military service. The lower back disorder is not currently addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus. Service connection for arthritis was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right foot plantar wart were denied. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated as zero percent disabling, while his right foot plantar wart remained at a ten percent rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were evaluated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria. The Board found that there was no evidence of limitation of motion, instability, or other disabling conditions warranting a compensable rating for either knee. For bilateral plantar fasciitis, the VA examination did not find any significant functional impairment or disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and a bilateral foot disability, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for PTSD and right knee arthritis, defective hearing, were all denied. The Board found no evidence of any in-service or post-service exposure to herbicides that could support the Veteran's claim for prostate cancer, nor did it find any competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current foot problems to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim to reopen the pes planus service connection was also denied. The Board found that new evidence did not change the outcome of the original decision.