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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and numbness of the face, right side, finding no credible or competent evidence of current diagnoses during the appeals period.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service or preexisted service. The Veteran also needs an addendum opinion regarding her right foot plantar wart, and she should be provided with a dental examination.,For TMJ, the Veteran will need a VA dental examination to determine whether her jaw popping/clicking is related to service. She must also have a new VA eye examination to assess her conjunctivitis/dry eye condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of her right foot disabilities and whether any new bunionettes represent a worsening of her service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and left knee disorder. The claim for bilateral pes planus is granted, while the claim for left knee disorder remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including shin splints as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus and psychiatric disorders. The effective date of these grants is not specified.

The Board found no competent or credible evidence of a current bilateral flat foot condition that is connected to the Veteran's military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability due to a July 1996 left foot surgery at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center. The Board finds that remand is required to obtain clarifying opinions regarding whether any current additional disability was caused by the surgery and if so, what its diagnosis is, as well as whether it was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective July 17, 2008. The ratings for varicose veins in both lower extremities and chondrocalcinosis of the left knee are denied. The Veteran's residual scar from the excision of a cyst on his wrist is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected pes planus. The case will be returned to the RO for further development, including obtaining outstanding VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was remanded. The claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for renal failure with hemodialysis was denied as the proximate cause of her condition is not attributable to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran seeks service connection for pes planus, which he claims was aggravated during his military service. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and review of the medical records.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine was first demonstrated during his period of active duty from December 28, 1989 to June 1, 1990. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right foot disability and his bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that new evidence was submitted to reopen some claims, but the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus permanently increased in severity during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, specifically plantar fasciitis, is service-connected. However, service connection for pes cavus and DJD in the feet cannot be established as these conditions are not diseases or injuries within the meaning of applicable legislation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected postoperative bunionectomy residuals and peripheral neuropathy were denied. However, he was granted increased evaluations for the secondary peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left knee, right knee, or right foot disability for which service connection may be granted.