Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his left elbow disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating than 40 percent. The issues of service connection for shin splints, urethritis, upper respiratory infection, pes planus, and testicle condition were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed foot disabilities and whether they are aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, with no higher ratings granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disorder, asthma, PTSD, knee disorders, ankle disorders, shoulder disorders, bilateral pes planus, and hypertension have been granted with initial disability ratings effective October 1, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have coronary artery disease that is attributable to active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, PTSD, bronchitis, right knee disability, left knee disability, or bilateral plantar fasciitis that had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hammertoes of the left and right feet, as well as plantar fasciitis, were denied. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's plantar fasciitis is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a disability characterized by numbness in the right lower extremity, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left foot plantar wart and obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches and foot disorders, are not shown to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his diabetes mellitus claim. The other claims were also denied.

The Veteran does not have a current left foot disability and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including an examination of the Veteran's current foot disabilities and their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and information about her employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case to further develop evidence and provide additional examinations for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, plantar fasciitis, and TDIU claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, with hammertoe and hallux valgus, is currently rated at 10 percent. Separate noncompensable ratings are assigned for left hammertoe and hallux valgus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the right knee disability is aggravated by service-connected conditions and for consideration of new evidence in the claim for increased rating for flat feet.