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

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a 10% evaluation for migraine headaches, effective August 18, 2002. The veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated as noncompensable, while allergic rhinitis is also rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action on reopening a claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, and to determine whether there was clear and unmistakable error in rating decisions denying service connection for bronchitis. The veteran's pes planus is not currently service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a disability rating of 30 percent for his service-connected bilateral plantar callosities, hammer toes, and plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The claim for PTSD is pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis and sinusitis do not warrant a compensable rating based on their current manifestations.

The Board found no evidence of a wrist disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are pending, but will be deferred until completion of the requested medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as there is no objective evidence of marked deformity such as pronation or abduction, swelling on use, or characteristic callosities.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's tinea pedis with callus on the plantar aspect of his right foot, finding that it affects more than 5 percent but less than 20 percent of his entire body and does not require immunosuppressive therapy.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right foot injury, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations were denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, benign positional vertigo, lung disability, and PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and migraine and tension type headaches, finding that these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral pes planus warrants a 30 percent evaluation, and his bilateral hallux valgus (bunion) disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation. The current evaluations are granted.

The Board found that the veteran's left foot disability, manifested by pain and tenderness on the base of the first and second toes, does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, and therefore service connection is granted for this condition. The issue of an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with depression remains pending.

The veteran's left ankle disability, which includes a fracture and pes planus, is currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence does not support an increase in the rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extension of his temporary total rating beyond April 30, 2000 due to a lack of evidence showing continued need for convalescence following surgery in November 1999.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected bilateral pes planus, along with his bilateral calcaneal spurs and early bilateral plantar fibromitosis, are all directly due to in-service foot injuries. The primary symptoms associated with these residuals include chronic pain, which result in an inability to rise on the heels or squat, and inability to walk or stand for protracted periods. With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant, a 30 percent rating is granted for his service-connected bilateral pes planus.