Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for right and left central band plantar fascia tears, as well as a mood disorder secondary to the bilateral foot disabilities. The Veteran's claims for back and neck disorders are remanded due to lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2002. Therefore, an earlier effective date for the grant of individual employability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, DEA under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35, and service-connected burial benefits due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and flat feet were denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of a right malleolus fracture was also denied. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is pending as the Board has remanded it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional examinations to assess his pes planus and right testicular mass.

The Board found that the appellant's diagnosed conditions (moderate bilateral pes planus, exostosis of the right foot, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine) are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for fibromyalgia, lumbar spine arthritis, and bilateral pes planus have been denied as the current ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes are considered to be the highest possible.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and service connection for left and right heel disorders have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran at his Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is a result of his active duty service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right club foot deformity was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine service connection for his bilateral foot disability and right knee disability. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but the Board found new and material evidence to reopen his low back and bilateral pes planus claims. The issues of increased PTSD and right knee ratings, as well as a temporary total rating due to surgical convalescence, remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not pre-exist his service and was not aggravated by it. The VA examiner found no evidence of a permanent aggravation of the cervical spine disorder due to service-connected low back disability.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, refractive error (blurred vision), amoebic dysentery, back disorder, residuals of a right foot laceration and fracture, pes planus, or bilateral calcaneal spurs.

The Veteran's left foot disability, right foot disability, tinnitus, and skin disorders are all found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated as noncompensable, and the residual scar of her left index finger is also rated as noncompensable.,Both conditions are found to be mild in nature with no functional impairment or additional disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board finds the Veteran's assertion of continuous symptomatology of a bilateral foot disability manifested by fallen arches since service to be credible given the consistency of his contentions for 35 years. The weight of the evidence supports the conclusion that the onset of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability was incurred during active duty service and that service connection must be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and denied each claim.