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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disability (other than a scar), left knee disability, or bilateral ankle disability related to his military service. The claim for a left knee scar is denied as there is no evidence of chronic worsening due to service. Service connection was also denied for pes planus.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection of pes planus of the right foot, but granted service connection for left foot disability. The issue of a compensable rating for a scar on the chin was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip and left foot disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus cannot be granted secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The Board also found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral foot disability was aggravated during active service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected left plantar wart, finding that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's right foot disability, characterized by history of right plantar fasciitis and status post bony spur removal of the fourth toe, warranted a 20 percent evaluation. The appeal was denied as the condition did not meet criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not worsen during his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma incurred in service. The RO granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to noise trauma during service.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a back disorder, and pes planus. The previous denials of these claims are considered final.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, flat feet, low back disorder, and other injuries. The RO granted service connection for a chip fracture of the second finger of the right hand but denied all other claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, carpal tunnel release of both wrists, hemorrhoids, repair of anal fissure, removal of colon polyps, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, residuals of cholecystectomy, residuals of appendectomy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a left foot disability, concluding that there is no basis to support such a finding based on the medical evidence which did not show any current left foot disability and excluded military service as the cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected plantar warts do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there is no medical evidence of current plantar wart pathology or residuals.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus could aggravate his low back pain, resulting in a grant of secondary service connection for low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, low back disability, and psychophysiologic gastrointestinal disease. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's bilateral flat feet disability is currently manifested by symptoms including pain, weakness and swelling. The RO has granted a 30 percent disability rating for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral foot condition, initially assigned at 20 percent and effective from September 1978, is denied. The current disability picture primarily includes painful motion, amputations of the 5th toes, and pronation of the heels.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination of his feet and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.