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

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability effective August 22, 2006. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not rated higher.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the medical evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the service-connected right hip and right knee disabilities cause an aggravation of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected pes planus of the right foot was initially evaluated as noncompensable for the period from January 1, 2005 to March 15, 2006. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered in light of these new pieces of evidence.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, a disability of the left little finger, and a right foot disability other than residuals of cold injury. As such, these claims are denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's skin condition, characterized as palmar plantar keratoma, was incurred in active service. The eye disorders including early nuclear sclerotic cataracts and mixed refractive error with astigmatism were not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or any other incidence of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and a mental disorder due to missing service treatment records. A new VA examination is required to determine if her current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection reopening, and compensation benefits were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's thoracic spine disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating, but his left foot conditions have been previously denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, effective from the date of the August 2007 decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals concerning the claims of arthritis, strength issues, and other conditions. The claim for hypertension was previously denied but new evidence has been submitted to reopen it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling an examination to determine if any other foot disorders are service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a stress fracture of the right heel, tendonitis of the right wrist, and bilateral pes planus. The claim for visual impairment is based on service-connected tonsillectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is not manifested by marked deformity, accentuated pain on manipulation and use, swelling, or callosities. Therefore, the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent are not met.

The Board found that a left foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's active duty service and there is no competent evidence linking it to his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain, secondary to arthralgias of the bilateral hips, knees, and ankles is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board found that pes planus and jungle rot were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the evidence did not establish a link to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.