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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to lack of a VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, pes planus, and a skin condition (claimed as ringworm) were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities (plantar fasciitis) are manifested by complaints of pain, numbness, fatigability, and lack of endurance which worsen with walking and standing. Objective manifestations include findings of tenderness on palpitation and slight callous formations over the lateral aspect of both heels. X-ray findings were void of any evidence of fractures, dislocation, destructive bone changes, or significant bone pathology. The Veteran's disability does not involve weakness, fatigability, or painful flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the claims for left shoulder disability and low back disability.

The Veteran's claims were granted, with the right knee disability receiving a rating of 20 percent effective from June 1, 2005. The issues regarding lumbar strain and service connection for a right foot disability are still pending.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his active service, and he is therefore entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and service connection. The left foot calluses were not rated compensably, while the right foot calluses and residuals of surgery warranted a rating increase to 10 percent prior to January 2, 2008, and to 20 percent thereafter. Service connection for residuals of removal of a hemorrhagic polyp of the vocal cords was withdrawn by the Veteran, and service connection for heart disease and hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims, including the need for VA examinations and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current bilateral foot disability is directly related to service.

The Veteran does not have a lumbar spine or right foot disability that was caused or aggravated by his service, and the Board finds no evidence of in-service occurrence of lumbar spine arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder. However, the Veteran's claims for lower jaw disability, neck disability, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no clear or unmistakable evidence of aggravation by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with valgus deformity of the ankles and discoid lupus erythematosis, finding that her hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and that her current conditions were not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is unemployable solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, right and left foot disorders (osteoamputation of metatarsals), and a back disorder. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is found to have been incurred during active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus. The Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case to ensure all due process requirements have been satisfied, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's FSHD, bilateral flat feet, and asthma were all first manifested during his period of active military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports these claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, and his left knee disorder (patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability) is rated at 10 percent prior to May 12, 2009, with a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee beginning May 12, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to errors in the evaluation of his PTSD and right foot disability. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.