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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot disabilities. The issues include service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and disability of the fifth toe of each foot had onset in service, with no evidence of aggravation during service. Therefore, these conditions are granted as service connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his pre-existing condition worsened during and due to active duty service. The right knee disability claim is pending.

The Board denied service connection for myofasciitis, bursitis, and plantar fasciitis of the bilateral feet as these conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation, as his symptoms are characterized by pain and swelling on use with minimal improvement through use of orthotics. Service connection for bilateral venous insufficiency disorder has been denied due to lack of competent and credible evidence showing its relationship to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, and spastic dysphonia. The Board will consider these findings in their next decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether to refer the Veteran's disability for extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 10 percent prior to August 27, 2007. From that date, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and a right and left foot disability, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain with traumatic arthritis. The decision also reopened the claim for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA outpatient treatment records, schedule a right knee examination, and review the evidence in light of the new information.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that it is at least in equipoise whether the condition was incurred during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) from August 1969 to November 1969.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus, with hammer digit syndrome, metatarsalgia, and Morton's neuroma on an extra-schedular basis was denied by the Board.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded other claims due to need for further development. The decision on these issues is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing flat feet likely existed prior to his entry into active service but did not undergo a clinically identifiable permanent increase in severity during service. The Veteran's headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was granted a noncompensable evaluation from January 5, 2005 to May 4, 2009 and a 10 percent evaluation since May 5, 2009. The low back strain was increased to a 10 percent rating effective January 5, 2005.

The Board found no current disability manifested by leg pain and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The flat feet issue was not addressed as it pertained to a different appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot neuropathy, increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis with tarsal neuropathy, initial rating for left foot tendinitis, fasciitis, and hallux valgus deformity, and TDIU are all pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and she is therefore entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has been granted a 10% evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated during his active service, and thus service connection is granted.