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

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot disorder, diagnosed as intractable plantar keratoses, was incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and bilateral pes planus. The RO previously denied these claims in December 1976, finding no evidence of service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated by military service. The left patellar tendonitis with traumatic retropatellar pain syndrome is currently not manifested by locking, arthritis, crepitus, swelling, effusion, laxity or instability, weakness or limitation of motion (with range of motion from 0 to 140 degrees); the knee was not found to be tender or painful. Therefore, service connection for bilateral pes planus and a compensable initial evaluation for left patellar tendonitis with traumatic retropatellar pain syndrome were denied.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for left foot plantar surface callus of the fourth metatarsal head, finding that the disability is manifested as no more disabling than a moderate foot injury.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and bilateral leg disorder. The claim for pes planus with degenerative joint disease of the right foot remains pending.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for bilateral pes planus from 30 to 10 percent was not properly implemented and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is not entitled to an increased rating, and his bilateral knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran is entitled to a 30 percent evaluation for plantar fasciitis with tendonitis and calcaneal spur of the left foot for the period from February 1, 1999, to May 19, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen during military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, and there was no evidence of permanent increase in disability during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis and bilateral pes planus, without consideration of any other disabilities, render him unemployable. The Board grants a total disability evaluation for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature of any current osteoarthritis of the spine and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence. It is found that his pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated in service, warranting service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's bilateral pes planus and determined that his spinal stenosis is secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The veteran's claim for exclusion from countable income as medical expenses the purchase of an air conditioner and water tank in 1998 was denied because he failed to establish that these purchases were medically necessary for his disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and new evidence was submitted to reopen his claim of a sleep disorder, but it was determined that the new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim. The RO also denied an increased rating for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection based on aggravation.

The Board has determined that service connection for a foot disorder is not warranted, and the veteran's claims for knee disorder as due to an undiagnosed illness are also denied.