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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral plantar calluses and hammer toes, with consideration of any neurological impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and extent of her service-connected foot and back disabilities, as well as whether she qualifies for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his current level of disability related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the left hip, and plantar fasciitis with heel spur of the left foot.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, and he is now entitled to a 30% evaluation for his cold injury residuals of the feet. Service connection has not been established for cervical or lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disabilities, including pes planus and osteoarthritis of both feet, are not related to service. The pre-existing conditions were found to have clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and left/right knee/ankle disabilities, finding that her pre-existing pes planus did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service. The Board also found no new and material evidence to reopen her claims for left/right knee/ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development of the record, including obtaining service records and an addendum from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, a neck (cervical spine) disability, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's skin disorder was not related to service, but herpes simplex was found to be related to active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right foot pes planus with Achilles tendonitis and lumbosacral degenerative changes, to include as secondary to service-connected left foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated therein, and his low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing flat feet were aggravated by his service, leading to current arthritis of the knees and ankles. The Board granted these claims based on this finding.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim is granted as her bilateral foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, heel spur, Achilles Tendinosis, and calcific tendonitis, had its onset during her period of military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further consideration due to inadequate examination and need for clarification regarding the nature of his bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current knee, foot, or headache disabilities and his active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for plantar fasciitis of the left foot was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a left foot disorder. The initial evaluation for his lumbar disability (lumbar strain) was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of recent VA examinations and incomplete opinions regarding the Veteran's left foot disorder and left knee injury.