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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a 30 percent rating from December 22, 2010, based on evidence showing marked pronation and inward displacement of the feet.

The Board granted a higher rating of 20 percent for each foot (pes planus, calcaneal spurring, and pes cavus of the right foot, and pes planus with calcaneal spurring of the left foot), effective from November 13, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support a claim of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate examination, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions are related to service and any other incident in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left foot disabilities are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the most recent VA examination report, the need for additional treatment records, and potential extraschedular considerations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral foot disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied these claims. The skin disorder claim is remanded.

The Veteran's CAD, varicose veins, and pes planus are not service-connected. The Board finds that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected disability (bilateral pneumothorax).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's current bilateral wrist condition is service-connected, and the Board grants his appeal for this issue. The remaining issues are referred to the RO for further development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, including pain and limitation of motion. The Board finds that a new examination is needed to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether they are related to service or other factors.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to September 28, 2011. From September 28, 2011, the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus are related to his active duty service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, and entitlement to initial compensable ratings for a right ankle scar and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral foot calluses were evaluated and found to not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes. The current 10% ratings are maintained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for pes planus and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral pes planus and separately assigned a 10 percent evaluation for each foot for plantar fasciitis throughout the appeal period. The Veteran's symptoms have been found to be moderate.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current foot symptoms are not related to his active duty service, but rather are due to diabetic neuropathy and/or lumbar radiculopathy. As such, the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral ankle disability, right shoulder disability, and left foot disability have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with previous remand orders, and further development is required to determine if the Veteran's right hip and bilateral foot disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus with calcaneal bone spurs did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 24, 2009 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from June 24, 2009.