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

The Veteran's motion for revision of a Board decision based on clear and unmistakable error was dismissed without prejudice due to insufficient pleading requirements.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of evidence showing more severe symptoms such as locking, lateral instability, or recurrent subluxations.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent as there is no objective evidence of marked deformity, pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities, or marked pronation. The impairment does not exceed that of moderate bilateral pes planus.,The Veteran's left wrist ganglion cyst has not been surgically treated and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as there are no significant symptoms or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability, bilateral foot disability, and skin condition.

The Board found no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection for pes planus and low back injury, as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as heal spurs, is due to her service and thus grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral callosities (claimed as plantar warts) is dismissed because it is a free-standing claim and not based on CUE in a prior final rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and residuals of a right great toe injury, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not have their onset in service or increase in severity during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with hammertoes is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus/hallux valgus was dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not undergo a clinically identifiable, permanent increase in severity during his period of active military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and dysthymia, was granted. His bilateral pes planus with knee pain was increased to a 50 percent rating effective May 25, 2007. The effective dates for the compensable ratings for left and right Achilles tendonitis were set at November 29, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, a skin disability other than pseudofolliculitis barbae, headaches, left wrist and foot disabilities, tinnitus, lung disability, and left hand disability. The decision also addressed issues related to initial compensable ratings for hallux valgus of the feet and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the right leg, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for residuals of a sprain of the right ankle.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the left leg was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues for PTSD, increased ratings for left sacroiliitis and left knee patellar tendonitis, and a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral leg pain and tremors due to chronic pain syndrome, and chronic low back pain due to chronic pain syndrome. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service and insufficient post-service medical records to support a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is related to her military service and grants this claim. The issue of arthritis was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred during active military service and is granted service connection.