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

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus did not undergo an increase in severity during service and therefore, it was not aggravated by his military service. The Board also determined there is no evidence of a current bilateral leg disability secondary to pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with hammertoes is currently rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied. Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been granted for arthritis of both feet.

The Board denied service connection for a right arm disability and bilateral pes planus, including as due to residuals of cold weather trauma. The Veteran's right ankle disability was also denied an increased rating.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the right knee or right foot, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back condition, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative osteoarthritis, was granted. His pes planus disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to May 26, 2006 for a 10 percent disability rating for postoperative plantar warts, bilateral feet. The claim was denied as it is not factually ascertainable from the evidence of record that the Veteran was entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for his postoperative plantar warts prior to May 26, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's right ankle/foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic right ankle sprain, PTSD, and plantar fasciitis have been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of 10% are appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for back and bilateral foot disabilities, finding no evidence of pre-existing conditions that were aggravated by service or otherwise incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic foot disability and an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and consider new evidence.

The Veteran's hepatitis and cluster headaches have been evaluated, but the issues of bilateral pes planus, left leg disability, and back disability are denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied as there is no evidence that preexisting pes planus was aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied as there is no evidence of a disability during service or within one year thereafter.,There is also no evidence of flat feet during service. The Board found that the current diagnosis of flat feet did not manifest until several years after discharge from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically his use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Veteran's plantar warts and genital warts have been evaluated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria.,The Veteran's seasonal allergies with recurrent sinusitis are rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, status-post stress fracture, left foot (including claims for left ankle inversion and sprain), and mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes at L5-S1.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current perforated eardrum, hearing loss, pes planus, or respiratory disorder. The VA examination did not provide a clear opinion on whether any of these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective September 8, 2004. The rating reflects the predominant range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine on forward flexion being greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.