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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The issue of the merits of the claim will be addressed in a future remand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection and initial evaluations for various disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a contemporaneous medical examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral pes planus. Additionally, a VA audiological evaluation will be needed to determine if he has hearing loss disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right foot disabilities, finding no competent medical evidence showing these conditions were related to service.

The Board found no evidence of cold injury or frostbite during service, and denied the Veteran's claims for residuals of a cold injury and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand was found to be incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, bilateral knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for post-surgical residuals of left wrist fracture is granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted service connection. Bilateral hip arthritis was not found to be related to service and thus denied. The right shoulder disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of plantar warts on his feet have been rated at 10 percent since August 25, 2008. The rating is granted as the condition has manifested as painful scars.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for pes planus, a lumbar spine disorder and a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The claims were denied as there was no evidence that the Veteran's conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder disabilities, back disability, hypertension, and left foot disability have been reopened. An initial compensable evaluation (10%) has been assigned for degenerative joint disease of the right great toe.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were adjudicated, and the Board found that some issues warranted a grant of noncompensable or 10 percent ratings while others required higher ratings. The decision is mixed as to whether some conditions are granted or denied.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus and degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsal have been granted, but a separate evaluation for the degenerative joint disease is sought.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus is not related to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, which adequately reflects his disability level.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's right foot disability was not present during service and is denied. The Board also found no current cervical spine or bilateral shoulder disabilities, thus denying the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for the Veteran to undergo examinations for his asthma, bilateral pes cavus, and left metatarsal fracture, and considering extraschedular evaluations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a right foot disability. The case is being remanded to complete necessary development.