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

The veteran's asthma and right foot plantar fasciitis are both found to be incurred in service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot disorder, characterized as subtalar arthritis with secondary subtalar fusion, began during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral plantar callosities and granted it, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise showing that the current bilateral foot disability likely began during his period of active service.

The veteran's pes planus with bilateral hallux valgus deformity, status post left bunionectomy, is rated at 50 percent disabling. The TDIU claim was denied as the veteran has not shown that his service-connected disability completely precludes employment.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation for bilateral pes planus and reopened the previously denied claims for service connection of back disorder and bilateral knee disorders, both secondary to bilateral pes planus. However, it was determined that brain damage is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, trigger finger (right third finger) due to cold injury, and foot pain and tingling of toes due to cold injury. The veteran's preexisting conditions did not worsen during service.

The veteran's bilateral foot disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from May 1998. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms and does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. However, the claims for all other conditions remain denied as there is no current evidence of these disorders or their association with active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis of both feet does not warrant a higher evaluation, as it is currently rated at 20 percent for each foot and there is no evidence of more severe impairment.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated as zero percent disabling, and his plantar fasciitis of the left heel is rated at twenty percent. The veteran has no service-connected disability related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War.

The veteran's left shoulder disorder is currently rated at 20% and his bilateral foot and heel disorders are service-connected. The appeal for increased evaluation of the left shoulder is granted, while the appeal for service connection of the foot and heel disorders remains pending.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the ratings of bronchial asthma and pes planus, as well as service connection for right tibia and fibula fracture residuals, hypertension, and hearing loss. The effective date for these benefits was set at August 26, 2002.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for pes planus and also denied secondary service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, status post bilateral knee replacements; bilateral ankle disorders, including arthritis; and arthritis of the feet, hips, back and arms as secondary to pes planus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a left knee disability, finding no competent medical evidence of these conditions until many years after service. The Board also found no causal link between any incident of service and these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral foot disability, including bilateral flat feet and hammertoes, began during service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The veteran's right foot disability, characterized by old healed fractures and arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The RO has granted the increased evaluation based on current clinical findings including pain and limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 16, 1997 for a 20 percent evaluation of his service-connected left foot disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal during a personal hearing, and the Board dismissed the case without prejudice.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not show pronounced deformity or severe inward displacement and spasm of the tendo achilles.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible level, and his bilateral foot disability and hemorrhoids are each rated appropriately based on their severity.