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

The Veteran's surgeries did not require at least a one-month period of convalescence, severe postoperative residuals, or extended immobilization.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot conditions have been rated as 10 percent each, and the appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot and knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran is granted a separate rating for lateral instability of his right knee, but denied higher ratings for his right foot arthritis and patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative disease. His traumatic shoulder condition does not warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is rated at the minimum allowed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The highest schedular rating of 50 percent was assigned for the service-connected status post total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which is currently rated as resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating for this disability. The VA examiner found no objective evidence of marked deformity or swelling on use, and noted that the pain was not from the site of the pes planus deformity.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain relevant inpatient clinical records from the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton. The Veteran's service treatment record indicates he had foot complaints during his active duty, but no definitive diagnosis or treatment was provided.

The Veteran's additional right foot disability is determined to be caused by the November 2005 VA surgical treatment, and it is at least as likely as not that this was due to an error in judgment on the part of the treating VA podiatrist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and bilateral plantar fasciitis have been denied as there is no established current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral pes planus due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection in the matters of tremors and an eye disorder. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these issues as they are dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his low back disability, right wrist disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined evaluation is only 40 percent and he has other factors that prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, hypertension, left ankle and knee disorders, a low back disorder, and obesity. The denial is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the acquisition of medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active duty service. The nervous stomach condition is not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic imbalance disorder, but finds that new evidence does not establish a direct relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that his statements regarding continuity of symptoms were not credible and that no evidence supported a nexus between his current conditions and military service.