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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records.

The Board found that the appellant's current ankle disorder and pes planus are unrelated to a period of INACDUTRA in 1992, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,The claim of new and material evidence to reopen a left knee disability has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently evaluated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to evaluate her service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and asbestosis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted, and service connection for sleep apnea was established. The TDIU claim is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found no evidence of a current hip, leg, or foot disability that is causally related to service. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by service-connected disability and his claimed disabilities are not secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have been incurred in service, and the other claims for service connection were granted.

The Board found that an overpayment of $775 was improperly created due to the Veteran's receipt of training pay for 26 days instead of 30 days, and thus only 26 days of VA compensation benefits should have been withheld.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding no credible evidence linking any of the conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle sprain and associated conditions, osteoarthritis of the hips, and hypertension, are rated at a combined 70 percent. However, they do not preclude him from engaging in any regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs has been manifested by no more than mild impairment, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's flatfeet and plantar fasciitis did not manifest during active military service and have not otherwise been shown to be related to an in-service disease, injury, or event. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for eczema, tinea pedis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal bone spur due to the absence of a current diagnosis or chronic residuals related to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under DC 5276. The appeal for service connection for a left hand disorder has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to a need for additional substantive development, including scheduling of an appropriate VA examination and notification of the information and evidence necessary to substantiate his claims on secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with Taylor's bunion and an increased rating for the pes planus. The denial was based on the lack of current right hip pathology.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities are sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, warranting a TDIU.