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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's bilateral pes planus with postoperative osteotomies and recurrent plantar callosities, currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling.

The veteran's service-connected painful scars on the plantar surface of both feet are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that it was not incurred during his active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected back disability.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board's January 1988 decision reducing the veteran's pes planus rating from 50% to 30% was found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and the original 50% rating is restored.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for increased ratings for pes planus and degenerative joint disease of the right knee have been denied as there is no evidence to support higher evaluations based on current disability levels.

The veteran's plantar fasciitis of the right foot is rated 10% and his bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee condition, involving a tear of the anterior body of the lateral meniscus, was incurred during active military service. The initial evaluations for low back disability and pes planus will be remanded for further review.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and service connection for residuals of bilateral subungual exostectomies, but denied the request for a higher rating for flat feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis with Achilles tendonitis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, based on the current symptomatology and lack of evidence supporting more severe impairment.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, including obtaining all relevant medical records and scheduling an examination.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with a history of weak feet. The RO has requested additional VA and private treatment records, but the clinical documentation pertaining to treatment after April 1998 has not been provided. The Board has ordered that the veteran be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his disability.

The veteran's bilateral flatfoot disability is manifested by no more than mild pes planus and pain, warranting a 10 percent evaluation. The Board denied an increased rating as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted separate 30 percent ratings for the service-connected residuals of left and right frozen foot disabilities, effective on January 12, 1998. The veteran's bilateral frozen feet disability is rated at 30 percent prior to that date.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was granted effective November 1, 1995. The decision found that the veteran had been unemployable due to service-connected conditions since November 1, 1995.

The Board has determined that the appellant should be afforded a VA examination for the purpose of obtaining a fully informed medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's current residuals of a testicular injury, if any, and his period of service. The RO is also advised to request records from the VAMC where the veteran sees a podiatrist for treatment of his warts.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and for clarification on whether the veteran is receiving Social Security Administration benefits. The RO must also schedule a VA medical examination to assess the veteran's ability to maintain substantial gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right ear hearing loss and assigned a rating of 10 percent. The left foot disability, bilateral ankle gout, and right ear hearing loss are all considered direct service connections.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for pes planus and a chronic lung disability due to lack of new and material evidence.