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

The Board found that the Veteran's right plantar calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis is related to his active service, granting service connection for this condition. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking the left ankle osteoarthritis and right Achilles tendonitis to his in-service parachute jumps.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is manifested by tenderness, mild loss of function, pain, soreness, swelling, fatigability, a lack of endurance, flare-ups, forefoot malalignment, an absence of arch on weight bearing, moderate pronation, and apropulsive and antalgic gait with use of corrective shoes and orthotic inserts. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is most appropriately rated by analogy to DC 5276, as relevant to acquired flatfeet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to reassess the severity of his bilateral foot disability and VCAA notice regarding the disability rating and effective date elements of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a link between the claimed disabilities and his service-connected conditions, or any other presumptive basis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including macules on the tongue, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, a heart murmur, hypertension (HTN), right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, bilateral pes planus, low back disability, residuals of salpingo-oophorectomy, and psychiatric disorders have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination reports and further development is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle and foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain records related to her exposure history and to schedule a VA examination to address the etiology of her hypothyroidism, left foot plantar fasciitis, and osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint and sacroiliitis, left hip.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling VA compensation examinations to reassess the severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the evaluation issue.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for pes planus from September 11, 2010 and denied all other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral pes planus were denied. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 1 is being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's GERD and bilateral pes planus have been granted increased ratings, but her low back disorder remains unresolved. The right knee arthritis claim is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus and any acquired psychiatric disability. The claims will be reviewed de novo after this process.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic foot disability in service and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient detail in previous examination reports and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship of his current left foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his left foot disability, including pes planus, valgus deformity, and plantar fasciitis, which he claims is related to his service-connected right knee disability. The case is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA opinion regarding causation or aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not worsen during service and was not aggravated by military service. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed knee and foot disorders, as the recent medical opinions do not adequately address their onset during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, reopening applications, and remanded other issues. The decision is not about service connection.