Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a worsening of the pre-existing condition during active duty.

The Board has found that the Veteran's flat feet with plantar fasciitis is likely related to active service and grants this claim. The hearing loss disability issue remains pending as it was addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus and plantar fasciitis have not been shown to warrant a compensable initial rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalcia patella, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has a current right foot disability related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus with bunion formation and degenerative joint disease of the first MTP joint of the great toe with plantar fasciitis has been found to meet the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating since October 25, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding his service-connected bilateral pes planus, bronchitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, back disorder, and right knee/leg disorder. The claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, back disorder, and right knee/leg disorder were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities, including scars from the surgeries, are found to be related to service. The claims for increased evaluations of the right foot disability and right foot scars are addressed in a separate REMAND portion.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hemorrhoids or right foot plantar wart disabilities for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability are related to in-service noise exposure, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, dental disorder, hypertension, low back disability, pes planus, and left eye disorder. The shin splints were resolved prior to filing of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar warts/calluses result in mild to moderate symptoms, including pain during weight-bearing activities. The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination reports and additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back and left foot disabilities due to deficiencies in the evidence, including the need to obtain SSA records and clarify a VA opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's left foot disability pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet and a left foot disability other than pes planus and hallux valgus. The claim for right foot hallux valgus with degenerative change in the first metatarsophalangeal joint was granted, but only to a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and hypertension are found to be related to service, granting the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that could be related to the claimed conditions.

The Board found that the reduction in evaluation from 30 percent to 10 percent for bilateral pes planus was improper and restored the 30 percent disability evaluation effective September 1, 2010.

The Veteran's left foot/ankle disability is being remanded for further development, including verification of her duty status during periods of active service and a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of her disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for plantar fasciitis, left foot and entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the hands, feet, legs, and arms. As a result, these matters are dismissed.