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

The Board has already granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the face. The Veteran's claim is now on remand to determine if he also has tumors or residuals of such tumors, as well as any other disabilities of his feet.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an additional VA examination to address the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of new and material evidence to reopen his claims, and the maximum schedular ratings available for his right knee disability have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot and left ankle disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective from the date of the August 2005 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as a non-service connected disability causes his employment limitations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and bilateral plantar fasciitis are being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is not manifested by pronounced symptomatology, and thus does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis warrants a rating of 30 percent effective March 28, 2011, and denied any higher ratings prior to that date.

The Veteran's pes planus with hallux abductus and arthritis of the talonavicular joints were rated at 30 percent each, effective November 10, 2001. The separate rating for arthritis was also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that pes planus was not aggravated by service and osteoarthritis did not have its onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various knee, foot, and elbow conditions have been granted.,However, the initial evaluations assigned are less than what was requested in some cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are not related to service, including his parachute jumps. The preponderance of evidence is against the claims.

The Veteran's pes planus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and his respiratory disorder is not etiologically related to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide clear and unmistakable evidence showing an underlying pre-existing condition in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's right shoulder instability and traumatic arthritis were denied as the evaluations remained at 30 percent.,The Veteran's left shoulder instability and traumatic arthritis were also denied, with the same evaluation of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was granted a 30% rating effective from January 7, 2008. The Board also addressed the issue of increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus and granted a 50% rating effective from April 25, 2011.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's plantar keratoma of the left foot, finding that it did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.