RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW 

 

NAME: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX BRANCH OF SERVICE: ARMY 

CASE NUMBER: PD1201091 SEPARATION DATE: 20020307 

BOARD DATE: 20121205 

 

 

SUMMARY OF CASE: Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this 
covered individual (CI) was an active duty SPC/E-4 (71L/Administrative Specialist), medically 
separated for chronic bilateral foot pain secondary to plantar fasciitis with underlying 
congenital condition of pes planus. The CI reported experiencing bilateral heel/foot pain in 
early 2000. She was placed on temporary profiles, provided with orthotics, and treated with 
physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). She was then evaluated 
and treated by Podiatry, but continued to experience foot pain. Her bilateral foot pain 
condition could not be adequately rehabilitated and she was issued a permanent L3 profile and 
referred for a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). Tension headaches and hypertension 
conditions, identified in the rating chart below, were also identified and forwarded by the MEB. 
The Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) adjudicated the chronic bilateral foot pain secondary to 
plantar fasciitis condition as unfitting, rated 0%. The PEB identified the underlying congenital 
condition of pes planus but did not deduct for the final disability rating. The rating was 
adjudicated with application of the Veteran’s Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). 
The remaining conditions were determined to be not unfitting. The CI made no appeals, and 
was medically separated with a 0% disability rating. 

 

 

CI CONTENTION: “Hypertension, Plantar Fasciitis, Tension Headache.” 

 

 

SCOPE OF REVIEW: The Board wishes to clarify that the scope of its review as defined in DoDI 
6040.44, Enclosure 3, paragraph 5.e.(2) is limited to those conditions which were determined 
by the PEB to be specifically unfitting for continued military service; or, when requested by the 
CI, those condition(s) “identified but not determined to be unfitting by the PEB.” The ratings 
for unfitting conditions will be reviewed in all cases. The hypertension and tension headache 
conditions as requested for consideration meet the criteria prescribed in DoDI 6040.44 for 
Board purview; and, are addressed below, in addition to a review of the ratings for the unfitting 
chronic bilateral foot pain secondary to plantar fasciitis condition. Any conditions or contention 
not requested in this application, or otherwise outside the Board’s defined scope of review, 
remain eligible for future consideration by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records. 

 

 

RATING COMPARISON: 

 

Service PEB – Dated 20020117 

VA (4 Mos. Post-Separation) – All Effective Date 20020308 

Condition 

Code 

Rating 

Condition 

Code 

Rating 

Exam 

Chronic Bilateral Foot Pain 
Secondary to Plantar 
Fasciitis with Underlying 
Congenital Condition of 
Pes Planus 

5399-5310 

0% 

Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis 

5299-5279 

10% 

20020709 

Hypertension 

Not Unfitting 

Hypertension 

7101 

10% 

20020710 

Tension Headaches 

Not Unfitting 

Tension Headaches 

8199-8100 

0% 

20020718 

.No Additional MEB/PEB Entries. 

Not Service-Connected x 5 

 

Combined: 0% 

Combined: 20% 



 


ANALYSIS SUMMARY: 

 

Chronic Bilateral Foot Pain Secondary to Plantar Fasciitis with Underlying Congenital Condition 
of Pes Planus Condition. The narrative summary (NARSUM) notes a year history of bilateral 
heel pain unrelieved by therapy and inserts (orthotics). Pain was increased with prolonged 
standing or walking. Examination of the feet, 3 months prior to separation, indicated normal 
vascular, skin, neurologic and muscle strength exams. “The patient has noted pes planus 
bilaterally that is asymptomatic.” There was bilateral pain on palpation at the plantar, medial, 
calcaneal tubercles bilaterally that increases with dorsiflexion. Range-of-motion (ROM) of the 
ankle and foot was normal (“… patient has full range of motion in all ankle and pedal joints 
bilaterally.”) Radiographs documented small bilateral Achilles spurs and bilateral os trigonum 
(small uncommon sesimoid bone behind the ankle). The CI’s entry physical in 1996 
documented normal arches. 

 

At the VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam performed 4 months after separation, the CI 
reported episodic numbness in the feet, pain in the heels, and increased pain with inserts. Gait 
was slow with complaint of heel pain. Exam documented normal skin and “bilateral heel pad 
tenderness compatible with plantar fasciitis.” The examiner stated “She does not have pes 
planus.” 

 

The Board directs attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence. There 
is no specific VASRD code for plantar fasciitis and rating must be accomplished analogously. 
The PEB coded the condition analogous to 5310, Group X muscles at 0% (slight). They formally 
considered the congenital pes planus and mad no deduction (“EPTS Factor: UND”). The VA did 
not find any evidence of pes planus and rated the bilateral plantar fasciitis at 10% with 
analogous coding to 5279 [Metatarsalgia, anterior (Morton’s disease), unilateral, or bilateral] at 
10%. Analogous coding under 5310 would be for each foot separately and must follow the 
provisions of VASRD §4.73 (Schedule of Ratings-Muscle Injuries) and both §4.55 (Principles of 
combined ratings for muscle injuries) and §4.56 (Evaluation of muscle disabilities) which focus 
on traumatic muscle injuries. Analogous coding under 5276 [Flatfoot, acquired: (pes planus)] 
was not supported by the evidence of the treatment record, the VA exam showing no pes 
planus, or with consideration of §4.57 (Static foot deformities). The Board considered the CI's 
underlying pathology, functional limits and bilateral foot tenderness with painful motion not 
responsive to prolonged therapy would warrant alternative analogous coding to 5279 (5299-
5279). 

 

After due deliberation, considering all of the evidence and mindful of VASRD §4.3 (reasonable 
doubt), the Board recommends a disability rating of 10% for the chronic bilateral foot pain 
secondary to plantar fasciitis with underlying congenital condition of pes planus condition. 

 

Contended PEB Conditions. The contended conditions adjudicated as not unfitting by the PEB 
were hypertension and tension headaches. The Board’s first charge with respect to these 
conditions is an assessment of the appropriateness of the PEB’s fitness adjudications. The 
Board’s threshold for countering fitness determinations is higher than the VASRD §4.3 
(reasonable doubt) standard used for its rating recommendations, but remains adherent to the 
DoDI 6040.44 “fair and equitable” standard. None of these conditions were profiled; none 
were implicated in the commander’s statement; and, none were judged to fail retention 
standards. All were reviewed by the action officer and considered by the Board. There was no 
indication from the record that any of these conditions significantly interfered with satisfactory 
duty performance. After due deliberation in consideration of the preponderance of the 
evidence, the Board concluded that there was insufficient cause to recommend a change in the 
PEB fitness determination for the contended hypertension or tension headache conditions; 
and, therefore, no additional disability ratings can be recommended. 


BOARD FINDINGS: IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or 
guidelines relied upon by the PEB will not be considered by the Board to the extent they were 
inconsistent with the VASRD in effect at the time of the adjudication. The Board did not 
surmise from the record or PEB ruling in this case that any prerogatives outside the VASRD 
were exercised. In the matter of the chronic bilateral foot pain secondary to plantar fasciitis 
with underlying congenital condition of pes planus condition, the Board unanimously 
recommends a disability rating of 10%, coded 5299-5279 IAW VASRD §4.71a. In the matter of 
the contended hypertension and tension headache conditions, the Board unanimously 
recommends no change from the PEB determinations as not unfitting. There were no other 
conditions within the Board’s scope of review for consideration. 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION: The Board recommends that the CI’s prior determination be modified as 
follows, effective as of the date of her prior medical separation: 

 

UNFITTING CONDITION 

VASRD CODE 

RATING 

Chronic Bilateral Foot Pain Secondary to Plantar Fasciitis with 
underlying congenital condition of Pes Planus 

5299-5279 

10% 

COMBINED 

10% 



 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

Exhibit A. DD Form 294, dated 20120603, w/atchs 

Exhibit B. Service Treatment Record 

Exhibit C. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Treatment Record 

 

 

 

 

 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, DAF 

 President 

 Physical Disability Board of Review 

 


SFMR-RB 


 

 

MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, US Army Physical Disability Agency 

(TAPD-ZB / XXXXXXXX), 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22202-3557 

 

 

SUBJECT: Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation 

for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, AR20130000150 (PD201201091) 

 

 

1. I have reviewed the enclosed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of 
Review (DoD PDBR) recommendation and record of proceedings pertaining to the 
subject individual. Under the authority of Title 10, United States Code, section 1554a, 
I accept the Board’s recommendation to modify the individual’s disability rating to 10% 
without recharacterization of the individual’s separation. This decision is final. 

 

2. I direct that all the Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be 
corrected accordingly no later than 120 days from the date of this memorandum. 

 

3. I request that a copy of the corrections and any related correspondence be provided 
to the individual concerned, counsel (if any), any Members of Congress who have 
shown interest, and to the Army Review Boards Agency with a copy of this 
memorandum without enclosures. 

 

 BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY: 

 

 

 

 

Encl XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

 Deputy Assistant Secretary 

 (Army Review Boards)