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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 27, 2004, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus. The decision found that there was no evidence showing an increase in severity of the disability during the one year period prior to February 27, 2004.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of any right foot condition found to be present. The Veteran seeks service connection for his current right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed bilateral ankle disorders or residuals of a right hand injury related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, left foot condition, right foot condition, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and a psychiatric disorder claimed initially as catatonic schizophrenia. The decision also noted that the Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for a vision disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, ankle pain, low back pain, and headaches are remanded due to incomplete information regarding active duty periods.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected foot disabilities, and determining whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for low back pain prior to and from February 1, 2008 was withdrawn. The RO reduced the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral pes planus from 30 percent to 10 percent effective February 1, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, left ankle osteoarthritis, and anxiety disorder have been granted initial ratings of 10%, 20%, and 10% respectively. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30%. The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20%. The Veteran's anxiety disorder remains at a 10% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran was also not found eligible for VA disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, valvular heart disease, right hand CTS, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur and pes planus have been granted initial ratings. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, bilateral elbow disabilities, DJD of hips and knees/ankles, plantar calcaneal spur, low back disability, loss of teeth, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or disease and concluding that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus and granted it, finding that the disability first documented during service had onset during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current disability of any claimed conditions related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, right and left knee chondromalacia, and low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability effective August 22, 2006. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not rated higher.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the medical evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the service-connected right hip and right knee disabilities cause an aggravation of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected pes planus of the right foot was initially evaluated as noncompensable for the period from January 1, 2005 to March 15, 2006. The appeal is denied.