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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral disc disease and an increased rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical sprain and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus and whether his lumbar spine disorder is related to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus are related to his military service. The Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by service due to medication discontinuation. His bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have existed prior to service but increased in severity during service. His pes planus did not exist prior to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and sinusitis were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a chronic disorder during service, nor was there any competent medical evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is found to be incurred in service, and the claim for residuals of a positive tine test remains pending as no VA examination has been conducted.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral pes planus were found to be related to his service, with the pes planus being aggravated by service.

The Board has identified several issues for remand, including the need to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) concerning service connection for left ear hearing loss and increased evaluations for pes planus, left foot, and residuals of left ankle injury. Additionally, a VA audiological examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee internal derangement and osteoarthritis are granted, but his claimed hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are not found to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to issues with the reasons and bases provided in previous decisions, including continuity of symptomatology for anxiety disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, specifically arthritis of the first toes, is not causally related to his service-connected pes planus and instead likely due to natural progression of age. Therefore, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected eczema and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and verifying his periods of active duty, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve service. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 2005. His mechanical lower back pain with degenerative changes and radiculopathy was initially rated at noncompensable from June 1, 2005 to July 31, 2005; 10 percent disabling from August 1, 2005 to September 27, 2009; and 20 percent disabling since September 28, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus and the etiology of his left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (dementia) and bilateral flat feet, as the dementia was not incurred during service and there is no evidence of a current disability related to the flat feet. The Veteran's claim for PTSD with memory loss was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, right foot DJD, and left foot DJD are being remanded due to the need to secure additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of his claimed disabilities, including low back, bilateral hip, left knee, bilateral foot, and bilateral hand disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's foot disabilities, including pes planus and hallux valgus. The examiner should consider the Veteran's statements as to symptoms and treatment, including his 1985 bilateral foot surgery.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus existed prior to his active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. The calluses and blisters of the feet were not related to his military service.