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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine osteoarthritis. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination of his service-connected PTSD and completing additional development on the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial noncompensable rating assigned for scar tissue of the left foot is upheld, as the evidence does not show any limitation of function or instability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for residuals of a left foot fracture and pes planus due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left foot plantar fasciitis have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent each, effective from August 1, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his shell fragment wound and tracheotomy residuals was granted, with a 10 percent disability rating assigned. The claims to reopen service connection for heart disease and left foot disability were also granted.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed foot disability that is attributable to active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, heel spurs, and arthritis of the hands. The claim for hypertension was also denied as there is no evidence showing diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Board denied service connection for left foot and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence to support a direct link between the conditions and service.

The Board has determined that there is no current right ankle or right foot disability and thus cannot grant service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for flat feet and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as Level III, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For his left knee disability, the Board found that an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, flat feet, shin splints, hernia, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also noted that the preexisting flat feet did not undergo a worsening beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluation of his left foot disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The issue regarding service connection for left knee and hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected left foot disability is pending, but has been remanded by the Board. The timely NOD issue with regard to the August 1995 rating decision was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Board found that the submitted evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, and thus denied reopening of the claim. The Veteran's testimony at his hearing suggested possible in-service aggravation or incurrence of the condition but lacked supporting clinical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis and hypertension, with a noncompensable rating assigned for hypertension. The Veteran's other claims were withdrawn prior to the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.