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

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that new and material evidence supports this claim. The issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus remains unresolved.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of plantar callus of the right foot, finding that the August 1997 rating decision denying his application to reopen a claim of service connection for plantar warts was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for varicose veins of the left leg and bilateral pes planus were denied as there is no evidence showing that his conditions have worsened to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral foot disorders or residuals of bronchitis/bronchial pneumonia that are related to service. The veteran's current conditions were not incurred during his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected plantar fasciitis and right ankle sprain with malleolar avulsion fracture, finding that he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and did not provide any good cause.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for sinusitis from October 7, 1996 through July 24, 2001. The veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated as noncompensable.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, status post right foot surgery with residual right first metatarsophalangeal joint strain, and numbness of the left side of the tongue with decreased facial articulation were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims, including obtaining evidence and records related to her service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, which is the highest possible under the rating schedule. The decision also notes that the veteran's employability would be affected by his feet disorder but that sedentary employment was feasible.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral flat feet, finding that the symptoms were no more than moderate and did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and an increased rating for left calcaneus fracture residuals, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service. The veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, currently rated at 10 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right knee, right ankle, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities. The RO found that these conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on current symptomatology.

The veteran's PTSD, asthma, and other service-connected conditions resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent as of May 27, 1999. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are established based on when the disabilities became factually ascertainable.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus did not worsen during service, and denied his claim for service connection. For the left thigh shell fragment wound, while the veteran reported pain and soreness, there was no evidence of limitation of function or tenderness on objective demonstration, thus denying an increased evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee and left foot conditions are not related to his October 1992 fall at a VA hospital, and therefore denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected history of plantar wart of the left foot, finding that there was no evidence of any active pathology or residual from this condition. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, finding no competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus and hallux valgus does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.