Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for pes planus. The preexisting bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is a congenital condition, not an acquired one incurred during service. Therefore, it cannot be granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and reconsideration of the claims, including obtaining a complete copy of the March 2003 VA medical examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation benefits as he already has a suitable job and does not have an employment handicap.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and clarification of the appellant's service history.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations for his claimed heart disability, hemorrhoids, and left foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability is manifested by severe disability, characterized by objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, and characteristic callosities. The Veteran wears orthotics that provides some relief from the pain.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for hammer toes of the second, third, and fourth right toes and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot pes planus with plantar warts, status post osteotomy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any higher ratings.

The Board has ordered a supplemental VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right foot disability is aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The case will be remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and DJD of the bilateral ankles, finding that his pre-existing pes planus did not become aggravated by military service. The DJD was also determined not to be related to or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is etiologically related to her active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability and her active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current foot disorder, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis and inferior calcaneal spurs of the bilateral feet, was incurred in service. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability ratings for bilateral pes planus, chondromalacia of the right knee, and degenerative changes of the right knee from 30%, 10%, and 10% to 10%, 0%, and 0% respectively was not proper due to procedural issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and gastroenteritis, but these issues are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, as the recent evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus worsened beyond natural progression during his active service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus and pes planus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. The cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including obtaining additional records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim of service connection for a left foot disability is pending, as is the request for a higher rating for olecranon spur of the left elbow. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability and for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD due to incomplete examination reports and conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is associated with secondary disabilities of the left knee, feet, and ankles. The initial evaluation for his right knee chondromalacia patella remains at 10 percent.