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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for deformity of the feet and finds that new evidence received since the 1967 denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The preexisting foot conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of all relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his return to active duty, and the need for further examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus and right and left shin splints.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral foot disability. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus permanently worsened beyond its natural progression during his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left foot disability, resulting from VA hospitalization and medical treatment in May 1994, did not result in additional disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's stomach/swallowing disability, including dysphagia with hiatal hernia, is service-connected. The claim for tinnitus is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if it is related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for the cervical spine, bilateral foot, right shoulder, and right hand disabilities based on evidence of current disability and in-service injury or symptomatology.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted an initial 10% rating, effective May 1, 2007. Service connection for a deviated nasal septum and hearing loss in the left ear were denied. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral foot disability claims are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, left shoulder disability/arthritis, low back disability, and foot disability due to undiagnosed illness. The disabilities were found not related to service or any presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of her service-connected bilateral tibia stress fractures and plantar fasciitis. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also considered inextricably intertwined with the increased ratings claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board also noted that the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) has been raised.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist and right foot disabilities.

The appeal is being remanded due to the Veteran's request for a Board hearing. The initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus has been granted, but no specific rating or effective date was provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and retinopathy are denied as there is no diagnosed condition. The claim for service connection of bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, right foot, and bilateral hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with triple arthrodesis of the left foot is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from January 14, 2011. His left ankle degenerative joint disease (s/p talo-navicular joint arthrodesis) has not been separately evaluated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service. The bilateral ankle disability was not manifest in service or related to his service-connected knee disability.