Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability and right and left foot strain has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder (including bronchitis and asthma) is pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial compensable disability ratings were denied. The appeal for bilateral degenerative joint disease of metatarsophalangeal joints with bilateral calcaneal spurs and severe pes planus was withdrawn by the Veteran, while his claims for left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and tinea pedis remained denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and pes planus, but these claims are now remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was permanently aggravated by his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, due to lack of evidence supporting their onset or association with service.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for pes planus was denied. His appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted a higher rating. The issue regarding the reduction in disability rating for prostate residuals was withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA surgical reports or hospital summary reports from the North Texas VA Healthcare system and scheduling a new VA examination to assess her current disability picture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, manifested by complaints of pain with prolonged walking and standing relieved by rest and medication, with objective findings of foot tenderness, normal ankle range of motion, and no evidence of abnormal weight-bearing, weakness, deformity, atrophy of the musculature, malalignment, or instability, more nearly approximates the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating under DC 5276. Therefore, an initial 10 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder with psychotic features, sleep apnea, migraines, lumbar spine degenerative changes, right knee injuries, and hypertension, render him housebound or in need of aid and attendance. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia patella are found to have pre-existed service but were aggravated by military service, warranting service connection.,There is a strong correlation between the Veteran's pes planus and his low back disability. The Board finds that this low back disability may be considered secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of any current bilateral foot disorder and whether it is related to service, including active duty for training or inactive duty for training. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 20 percent for service-connected right and left foot plantar fasciitis, finding the disability to be moderately severe.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or an in-service injury that could be linked to the claimed conditions. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of eczema due to herbicide exposure, and his headaches were found to be related to PTSD.

The Veteran's plantar fasciitis and midfoot arthritis have been rated at a maximum of 30 percent since January 23, 2007.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated as noncompensable, but the VA examiner found that he still experiences pain and stiffness in his feet despite using orthotics. The Veteran should receive a 10 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has referred the claim to the RO for development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran not filing a timely Notice of Disagreement within one year of the July 2006 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus and headaches were denied, but her claim for a left ankle disorder was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during service, and there is no current evidence of chronic headaches. However, she has been diagnosed with a left ankle disorder presumed related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with residuals of surgery of the right fifth toe causes unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and a Social and Industrial Survey to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.