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

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee and a right ankle condition, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's current neck, back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee conditions may be related to his service-connected foot problems.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The initial compensable evaluation for service-connected pes planus is also being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 10 percent prior to October 8, 2008 and denied a higher rating. His right knee disorder and left hip disorder were not found to be related to service-connected conditions or active duty service. A right leg muscle strain was also not attributable to service or service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes and joint pain, gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral shin splints have been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition, including pes planus and other related conditions, was not incurred in service. His low back disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to the RO for further development, including additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between active military service or any other condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction, arthritis of both feet, and bilateral pes planus. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete VA records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received since the May 2009 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating before August 30, 2007, and a higher than 10 percent rating from that date for bilateral pes planus is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing a VA medical examination.

The Veteran's foot disorder, diagnosed as intractable plantar keratosis (IPK), was found to be incurred in service based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while his preexisting bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection. The claims for prostate cancer as secondary to prostatitis were also withdrawn, but the Veteran's assertions regarding potential VA negligence in failing to diagnose or treat prostate cancer did not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral flat feet, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his subjective complaints of pain and use of shoe inserts.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for narcolepsy due to new evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses of a bilateral foot disorder and eye disorder are related to his active service, but further examination is needed to determine their exact nature and etiology.