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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected PTSD and denied his entitlement to service connection for right hip and foot disabilities. The initial 50 percent evaluation assigned for PTSD prior to January 8, 1998, was maintained.

The appellant has been granted service connection for post-traumatic neck pain syndrome and upper back pain syndrome, as well as a current diagnosis of allergies (urticaria).,Service connection was denied for gastritis/gastroenteritis, right ankle injury, pes planus, sinus/throat/larynx conditions, and bladder/kidney condition (ureterocele).

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's bilateral foot disability, finding that it is related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant evaluations in excess of those currently assigned.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current left foot disability is related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for pes planus and dysentery, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology or medical findings.

The veteran's service-connected plantar warts have been rated as noncompensable.,The veteran's service-connected residuals of right inguinal herniorrhaphy and laparoscopic surgery in the left inguinal area do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board incorrectly applied the regulation allowing for severance of service connection on grounds of clear and unmistakable error, resulting in a decision that was not consistent with the evidence then of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The issue of service connection for lumbar strain with disc protrusion at L5-S1 and gout will be addressed in the remand portion.

The veteran's service-connected right foot condition, chronic tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as it does not demonstrate more than moderate impairment.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus is manifested by complaints of cramps in both arches, pain on palpation, severe collapsing pronation, and spasticity. The disability reasonably approximates pronounced impairment, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the appellant's service-connected right foot disorder, effective as of the date of the decision. The claim for secondary service connection for a low back disability is also granted.

The veteran's claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is denied as her service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's weak and flat feet, finding that his symptoms are equivalent to severe bilateral flatfoot.

The Board granted an increased rating for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and bunions, but denied service connection for a scar of the left foot as a residual of an injury, tinea pedis claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and bunions, hemorrhoids, and sinusitis and perennial sinorhinitis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disorder and bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under current VA regulations.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and osteoarthritis of the subtalar joints are currently rated at 50% and 10%, respectively. The Board denied an increased rating for his foot disability, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes. For TDIU, the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.