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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his daily activities and employment.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus and its secondary effects. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine has been granted. The claims for allergies, hearing loss, glaucoma, and rheumatoid arthritis and/or arthritis of the cervical spine, elbows, wrists, and hips have also been granted with appropriate ratings. Other claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right heel condition and right shoulder rotator cuff tear with surgery are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear medical opinions and additional VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disabilities did not have their onset during active service and are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating of 70 percent due to service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disorders do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral heel spurs, tinnitus, and right foot disability. The decision also found that there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral heel spurs.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and updated treatment records, as well as to clarify the August 2013 VA examiner's findings regarding the Veteran's right foot condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the hip joints is pending. The claim for a skin rash has been reopened but remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is granted. The low back disability claim was previously denied and reopening was granted due to new evidence received. Service connection is established based on a finding that the current condition is related to active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sciatica and plantar fasciitis remains pending as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The eye disability claim was previously denied but reopened due to new evidence received, however no service connection is granted as there is no link between current condition and active duty.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, major depression, anxiety disorder) claim remains pending as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions, including back, knee, foot, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, or psychiatric disorders, that were incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric, right knee, and right foot disabilities as secondary to neurologic impairment of the left lower leg. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability or current right knee or right foot disability that was related to his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder, including pes planus and fractures of the feet, is not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disability and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus of the left foot and reopened the claim for glaucoma. The Veteran's current pes planus is found to be related to his military service, while the issue of service connection for glaucoma remains pending as new evidence did not establish a medical nexus.

The Veteran's service-connected flat feet disability has been manifested by plantar, metatarsal, and tarsal pain, objective evidence of marked deformities, talus pronation and Achilles tendon deviation, collapsed transverse and longitudinal arches, mild sickle foot formation in the tarsal region, with increased sclerosing and narrowing of the joint space, not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances, resulting in pronounced bilateral flatfoot. The criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected flat feet have not been met.

The Veteran's chronic left foot disability (plantar fasciitis) and chronic bladder disorder were both found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was manifested by pronounced symptoms from March 30, 2012, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is also being returned to the RO with updated treatment records and readjudicated.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus did not worsen during service and thus denied his claim for service connection.