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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus increased in severity during service and is therefore aggravated by military service, warranting service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability and granted service connection for a urinary system disability. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for traumatic injury to the left leg and knee, and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine condition was not found to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, the low back disability with degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, ureterolithiasis was rated at 10 percent prior to March 14, 2001 and above 10 percent thereafter, plantar fasciitis and heel spur of the right foot were rated as non-compensable, and hypertension was not found to be service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability and a right foot disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's interatrial septal aneurysm is currently rated at 30 percent prior to March 7, 2007 and 60 percent from that date. The Veteran's pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral pes planus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and readjudication of the issues concerning service connection for a low back disorder, increased ratings for GERD and right knee arthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus did not warrant a higher rating prior to May 19, 2007 and denied his claim for an increased evaluation after May 19, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis has been resolved and the issue is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment was timely filed, and therefore grants this issue.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his bilateral pes planus and tinea pedis disabilities, which are currently rated at 30 percent. The VA has requested additional records from the Modesto VA healthcare system and a new examination to clarify the findings of an August 2007 VA examination regarding tinea pedis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination and vocational rehabilitation records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, left great toe osteoarthritis with hallux valgus deformity, and allergic rhinitis have been granted. However, the evaluations for these conditions remain at zero percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, to include as secondary to his service-connected stress fractures of the feet, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his pes planus, and concluded that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as there was no evidence of additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus as these conditions are found to be causally related to active service.