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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypoglycemia, hypertension, cataracts, gallbladder removal, pes planus, left elbow and knee disabilities, left ankle and thigh disabilities, right knee and hip disabilities, lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, abnormal blood count, elevated cholesterol/triglycerides, ear pain, and rash on the back. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current left foot disability to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination and provide proper notice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with associated plantar fasciitis was initially rated as noncompensable prior to April 27, 2007. Since then, he has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation for his disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, namely bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative changes at the metatarsal joints; lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease associated with bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative changes at the metatarsal joints; and radiculopathy, right L 5 associated with lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease have been of sufficient severity to produce unemployability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, calcaneal spurs, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty; degenerative joint disease of the ankles was not exhibited within the first post-service year. The right leg disability (varicose veins and venous insufficiency) was also not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at 30 percent since April 23, 2010. The rating is based on the current severity of symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial 10 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis is not ready for appellate review due to a separate diabetes mellitus claim. The case is REMANDED for readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain private medical records and ensure all necessary evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar disorder and bilateral pes planus were denied. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome was granted with a single noncompensable evaluation, while his left knee patellofemoral syndrome received the same rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current foot disability did not preexist service and was not manifested in service. The Board also noted that any current foot disability is not shown to be related to his service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot hallux limitus, status post Keller arthroplasty is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the criteria for a TDIU have therefore not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The issues of diabetes mellitus, increased rating for residuals of right tibia fracture, and reopening of peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for a VA examination of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and to consider whether his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left foot plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The RO granted service connection and a noncompensable rating, effective August 18, 2009.