Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (residuals of a low back injury, bilateral pes planus, irritable bowel with constipation, right knee chondromalacia, and left knee chondromalacia) preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral foot disability arising from VA treatment on March 1, 1999 due to withdrawal by the Veteran at a Board hearing held on April 28, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left foot, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus was incurred in service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining Social Security Administration records. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus deformity and entitlement to TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for scapholunate dissociation of the left hand/wrist. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to his military service and was aggravated by physical training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as consideration of his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with degenerative joint disease has been rated at 30 percent since February 23, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches due to insufficient evidence in the current examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD, but did not meet the criteria for higher initial or increased disability ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The evidence does not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma has been rated at 30 percent since October 5, 1999. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had mild pulmonary function impairment from asthma and was currently being treated with Albuterol and steroid inhalers.,The Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the tarsonavicular bone of the left foot were rated at 10 percent effective May 10, 2001. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had no more than overall moderate foot disability since May 10, 2001.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was previously rated at 10 percent, and the Board has now granted a 30 percent rating effective from August 6, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA opinion on his employability and whether he meets the criteria for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral planovalgus flat feet with heel spurs was granted, effective March 28, 2006. His claim for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder) is pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for foot pain, numbness, and tingling in his bilateral lower extremities.

The Board is remanding the claims to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA examination reports on bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The appeals for increased evaluations are denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated at 30 percent from September 27, 2004 to January 11, 2010. Beginning January 12, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to a 50 percent disability rating for his bilateral plantar fasciitis.