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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disorder, and left hip disorder. The stress fractures of the calcaneus are not productive of any disability.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and right knee disability were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD, no evidence of marked impairment in the feet or knees warranting a higher rating, and insufficient instability to support an additional rating under Diagnostic Code 5261.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and left shoulder injury are currently rated at the maximum levels allowed by VA regulations. The appeals for increased ratings have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left heel disability, characterized by pain and numbness in the heel and forefoot, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fallen arches, skin disorder, and right hip, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The decision also denied his attempt to reopen a previously denied claim for a skin disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The RO will need to provide additional examinations and consider the evidence in determining whether a right shoulder disability is present, as well as review all other issues on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's left foot condition was aggravated by service and granted service connection for a left foot disability. However, there is no evidence linking his right foot condition to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board found that a chronic left foot disability was not manifested during service and post-service continuity of symptoms is not demonstrated. The current left foot condition began after service and was not caused by any incident of service.

The Board dismissed the claim as it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the issue of eligibility for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, right foot disability, and arthritis. The right foot disability is considered congenital in origin but aggravated by service. Arthritis is not shown to have resulted from service or be related to a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and bilateral pes planus, but granted service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot. The decision did not address foot and ankle disorders as a whole.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for plantar warts of the left and right feet were denied as there is no evidence of more than moderate impairment, which does not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a significant change in the law regarding VA's duty to assist. The case will be held in abeyance until it can be determined whether there are records that could establish an earlier effective date for the award of the 10 percent rating.

The veteran's pes planus was found to have increased in severity during her period of service, warranting a grant of service connection based on aggravation. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is remanded due to incomplete records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hip and leg disabilities were denied. The claim for a back condition was also denied. The TDIU claim is pending.

The veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected bilateral bunionettes and plantar wart on the left foot is being remanded to allow for additional examination, medical records review, and consideration of whether separate compensable ratings should be assigned for each affected foot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disability does not warrant an increased rating, and his bilateral foot disability is currently rated at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the veteran's service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and fracture residuals of the right ankle. The initial ratings assigned are 10% for each condition.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus and left shoulder disorder, as well as a retroactive increase to October 21, 1971 for the 30 percent rating for the pes planus. The RO has also addressed the denial of service connection for a foot condition in October 1971 (CUE).