Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and right ankle disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the pes planus claim and insufficient evidence of a current right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral flat feet is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that none were incurred or caused by his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability other than the fifth metatarsal fracture residuals is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board found that the currently assigned 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus is appropriate and no higher rating is warranted under Diagnostic Code 5276 for pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, heel condition, and ORIF have been granted effective May 23, 2002. The initial ratings for each condition are now in line with the current disability levels.,Effective May 23, 2002, the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for impairment of both knees (subluxation), limitation of flexion of both knees, and right heel plantar fasciitis with Achilles bursitis. The Veteran's ORIF condition also received an initial compensable rating.,The effective date for these ratings has been set at May 23, 2002, the date on which VA determined that the conditions were service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea were granted service connection. The appeals for increased ratings for hypertensive kidney disease with hypertension, rated 60 percent disabling prior to December 2, 2011, and 80 percent disabling from December 2, 2011, have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and left heel spur is not productive of weight-bearing over or medial to the great toe, inward bearing of the tendo Achilles, or pain on manipulation of the feet. Therefore, his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of corn excision of the left foot or a bilateral foot disability due to service. The evidence is insufficient to support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting left pes planus did not worsen during service and denied service connection for both left pes planus and left posterior tibial tendon rupture with degenerative changes of the left foot, as secondary to left pes planus. The Board concluded that there was no evidence of aggravation or a direct relationship between service and these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with related degenerative changes is found to be due to disease or injury that was incurred in active service. The current Charcot joint, peripheral vascular disease of the leg and foot, peripheral neuropathy, onychomycosis and gout are found as likely as not to be due to the now service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for proper notification of a VA examination and for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot disability, specifically a stress fracture, is service-connected as it occurred during her military service and resulted in residuals.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle/heel disorder and bilateral pes planus, finding that these conditions are the result of disease or injury incurred in active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and an opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection of a low back disability and remanding other claims due to need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for flat feet and found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis/hallux valgus was granted a 30 percent rating since June 30, 2010. The condition is currently rated as severe but does not meet the criteria for loss of use of the foot.