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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with degenerative joint disease, finding that the preexisting condition existed prior to service and did not worsen during or as a result of military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for varicose vein stripping is granted. The other claims are either denied or pending.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, a left leg disability, and a left foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been REMANDED due to the need for additional VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for recurrent left shoulder dislocation, pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hiatal hernia remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and readjudication due to a motion asserting that a medical examination and opinion are needed.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple foot and knee disabilities, as well as a headache disorder. The right hip disability is not found to be service-connected or related to other conditions. Ratings of 10% are assigned for the left foot bone spur with plantar fasciitis, right foot heel spur with plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a right knee injury with degenerative changes. A separate rating of 30% is granted for migraine headaches. The umbilical herniorrhaphy residuals receive a 10% rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral foot disability is unrelated to his period of military service and denied service connection for this condition.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus was preexisting and not aggravated by service. His osteoarthritis of the hands, shoulders, hips, knees, and lumbar spine is not related to service or his flat feet. Hearing loss and tinnitus were also not found to be related to service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus was granted, and the effective date of this grant is set at September 2, 1977.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus with left plantar fasciitis are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for foot disorder, including pes planus and an initial rating of 30 percent for sleep apnea prior to June 15, 2003. The claim for a higher rating for sleep apnea beginning on June 15, 2003 was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board is unable to grant the requested increases or establish service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of an unauthorized purchase of a patient lift system was denied as there is no legal basis for such reimbursement.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the right foot ulcer and related complications are not related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, and hiatal hernia are being remanded for further development to determine the current severity of each condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus is denied, and his claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis is also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed before rendering a decision on the merits as VA will notify the veteran if additional action is required.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of right and left tibial stress reactions, and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.