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

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right plantar fasciotomy and a calcaneal spur, finding that her disability is most appropriately rated as slight.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his service connection claim, including obtaining missing service medical records and attempting to locate treatment at Fort Ord in May 1968.

The Board finds that the veteran was first treated during service for hallux valgus - a condition that based upon the record remains a current diagnosis. Thus, service connection may be granted for bilateral hallux valgus, based upon incurrence during service. The Board also finds that the pes planus did undergo an increase in severity during the veteran's period of active service and there is no specific finding in the record as to such an increase being caused by the natural progression of the disease.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a foot disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran, but it remains unclear whether this condition is related to military service.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected residuals of fragment wounds to the left hand and pes planus, with a separate rating for a tender and painful scar from the same injury. The disability ratings are effective as of the date of the decision.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for the service-connected bilateral pes planus with hind foot valgus since July 21, 2001. The veteran's symptoms have been severe and consistent over time.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and tinea pedis with plantar warts of both feet are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations and records.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for TDIU and SMC based on her husband's service-connected bilateral flat feet disability. The Board found that his foot disability did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, nor did it meet the criteria for special monthly compensation due to anatomical loss or use.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for flat feet, right knee strain, and hypertension were denied. The claim for service connection for flat feet was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's right foot disability.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from Evans Army Hospital and consider all evidence added since the August 2002 Statement of the Case.

The Board found that the appellant's pes planus did not increase in severity during active military service and thus denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and left foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently does not have a psychiatric disorder, right foot disability, or low back strain due to service. The Board found that any current disabilities are unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and his degenerative arthritis of the first metacarpophalangeal joint may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing on whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for a bilateral foot disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the severity of her bilateral foot disability.

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus, a congenital abnormality, was not incurred or aggravated by service and granted service connection based on this finding.

The VA denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by his military service.