Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet and granted the claim, finding that new evidence shows no preexisting condition and that the Veteran still has the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, hip disability, and back disability. The decision found that preexisting pes planus was not aggravated during active military service, there is no evidence of a current bilateral knee or hip disability related to active military service, and there is no evidence of spinal arthritis within one year following discharge from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left foot disability, including abnormalities of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint and toes, is related to injury during his period of military service.

The Veteran's current right foot disability, including degenerative changes (arthritis), is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right foot disability, including hallux valgus, degenerative changes and pes planus, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The VA examinations did not find a link between the current condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral chondromalacia patella of the knees and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and unclear diagnoses.

The appeal is being remanded due to the timeliness of the Veteran's substantive appeal and a need to reconsider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral pes planus disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant periods of active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis with spurs, rhinitis (claimed as sneezing, dry mouth and shortness of breath), and bronchitis are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation was denied as there is no evidence that he was exposed to ionizing radiation during his active duty. The Board found that infertility, which the Veteran claimed was due to his alleged radiation exposure, is not a radiogenic disease and therefore not service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration due to incomplete records, lack of proper notification, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) was granted, with an effective date of July 3, 2008. His service connection for bilateral pes planus remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The erectile dysfunction claim was reopened, but the new evidence did not relate to a previously unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus is granted, but with a rating in excess of 10 percent denied due to lack of objective evidence supporting the need for such an increase.

The Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective from February 1, 2008.

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

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of maintaining gainful employment despite his age and physical limitations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The case will be reviewed again with consideration of all relevant medical history, including prior diagnoses during and since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bunions with intractable plantar karatoma of the right and left foot was reopened, granted, and assigned a 10% evaluation effective January 21, 2005. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date remains pending.