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

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and pes planus, are of such severity that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities were denied. Service connection was also denied for his pre-existing pes planus. The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for status post pelvic injury with residual of asymmetry of symphysis pubis was not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not show severe manifestations as required for a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing both issues regarding higher ratings for low back disc disease and right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further evidentiary and procedural development due to the need to obtain SSA disability determination records.

The Board has determined that a remand is required for the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection for left foot, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The veteran must be given an opportunity to file a timely substantive appeal as to his initial evaluation of his service-connected left foot disability.

The veteran's cluster migraine headaches were incurred during her active duty service and are considered service connected. The Board has also found that the veteran's major depressive disorder/dysthymia is proximately due to her service-connected cluster migraine headache disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted prior to June 16, 1998, but not more than 40 percent from that date onwards. Service connection for a left knee condition and bilateral calf disability were also denied.

The veteran's initial ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral pes planus have been granted at 30 percent each, effective from the day following her retirement from service.

The veteran's claim for higher evaluations for his right knee conditions and a TDIU was denied. His service-connected conditions include arthritis, multiple arthroscopy surgeries, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, prostatitis, hemorrhoids, chondromalacia patella, and traumatic arthritis of the right knee.

The Board found that the veteran's discharge from his second period of service was under dishonorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, including drug abuse. The bilateral foot disability and PTSD were not determined to be related to this period of service.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated as mild and not service-connected. The right shoulder disorder and low back disorder are also not service-connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus. The evidence received since the January 1946 denial does not address whether the veteran's pes planus increased in severity during service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations and clarifying the appellant's desire for a personal hearing.

The veteran's headaches were initially rated noncompensable and increased to a 10 percent rating after February 19, 2001. The right foot disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to May 18, 1998, and then increased to 20 percent effective February 19, 2001. After May 18, 1998, the veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs was rated as one disability under DC 5276, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and foot disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a direct link between these conditions and his service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found that the veteran did not have a diagnosed bilateral hip disorder.

The veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis of the right foot was found to be productive of no more than moderate impairment prior to February 2, 2005 and moderately severe impairment currently. The claims for increased evaluations were denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for an increased rating for retinal parafocal telangiectasia of the left eye remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain SSA medical evidence.