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

The Veteran's combined disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes is 70 percent, meeting the minimum schedular rating requirements and precluding him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is at least as likely as not incurred during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pes planus and that there is no evidence linking his current bilateral pes cavus to service or a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to unclear left knee severity and insufficient evidence on the right foot plantar fasciitis claim.

The Veteran's left thigh lipoma and right foot plantar fasciitis have been granted noncompensable evaluations. The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or for a grant for necessary special home adaptations was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such eligibility due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right foot disability, which was already service-connected and rated at 10%, has worsened to a level that now warrants a higher 30% rating due to significant occupational impairment in his job as a postal mail carrier.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a total evaluation based on individual unemployability is denied as it was not related to a clear and unmistakable error in the February 2003 rating decision that granted a total rating based on unemployability.

The Veteran's left foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar warts resulted in disability equivalent to moderate injury to each foot, but not moderately severe. The Board granted a separate 10 percent initial evaluation for each foot.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, specifically addressing whether these conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by service. The claim will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, initial evaluations for low back disorder with radicular foot pain and GERD, evaluations for right and left heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, and evaluation for right wrist tendonitis were all denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or material evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Veteran's hallux valgus deformity with great toe bunion and hammertoe deformities, right and left foot have been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs was denied. The RO arranged for a VA orthopedic examination but the Veteran did not report to it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (residuals of a low back injury, bilateral pes planus, irritable bowel with constipation, right knee chondromalacia, and left knee chondromalacia) preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral foot disability arising from VA treatment on March 1, 1999 due to withdrawal by the Veteran at a Board hearing held on April 28, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left foot, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus was incurred in service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.