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

The veteran's hypertension with abnormal EKG and tortuosity of the thoracic aorta, with exertional angina and coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent disabling.,There is no evidence of active malaria in the current record. The veteran's malaria claim is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various disabilities, including musculoskeletal issues of the ankles, knees, hips, wrists, arms, shoulders, and spine; bilateral foot disability; right eye disability; and fibrocystic breast disease. The decision is based on a finding that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back strain and bilateral flat feet, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's right and left plantar fasciitis with Achilles tendinitis have been rated as noncompensably disabling prior to March 20, 2000, and as 10 percent disabling from that date. The appeal is denied for ratings in excess of these evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis and hypertrophic changes of the navicular cuneiform articulation of both feet, as well as sinusitis. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an increased evaluation for his left foot tyloma, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral pes planus and headaches were denied by the RO. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more than mild or minimally symptomatic pes planus, and that the veteran's headaches are generally described as tension-type with occasional migraines.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is manifested by no more than mild tenderness to palpation with bilateral plantar fasciitis. The RO denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for plantar fasciitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and retropatellar pain syndrome were denied as the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right ankle disability or a rating in excess of 10 percent for skin condition and knee disability.,The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for plantar fasciitis were also denied as there was no additional functional loss due to pain or other pathology.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the appellant's claim for benefits has been submitted. However, a determination on the underlying issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus will be deferred.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 10 percent from May 31, 1995 to August 22, 2000.,From August 23, 2000 onwards, the veteran's condition improved with orthopedic inserts and is no longer considered pronounced.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during active duty.

The veteran's initial disability evaluations for bilateral pes planus and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right and left knees have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for a 10% evaluation for his service-connected right ankle disability, effective from April 9, 2002. The Board also found that there was no earlier effective date for the flat feet condition as it did not meet the criteria under VA regulations.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1978 rating decision that denied service connection for pes planus, as the evidence at the time supported the conclusion that the veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during his active duty.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability and bilateral ankle disability, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that the veteran's tinnitus was rated at the maximum under the old criteria but no evidence showed it presented an exceptional disability picture.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the veteran supports reopening his claim for service connection of stasis dermatitis. However, the increased evaluation request for flat feet remains denied as there is no additional evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic right ankle sprain and bilateral pes planus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and the issue of reopening the pes planus claim is no longer before the Board.