Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2014

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

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension, and a foot disorder including pes planus, hammer toes, and hallux valgus.,Service connection for right peroneal neuropathy (foot drop) was not established.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The appeal concerning whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims for service connection for left ankle and bilateral foot disabilities is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining her Reserve service records and private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and denied service connection for arthritis of the feet.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran has already received the benefit sought in this appeal, as a 20 percent rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome was in effect prior to May 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent initial rating for bilateral pes planus is warranted beginning October 4, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee conditions, right and left hallux limitus, and bilateral pes planus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran had a pre-existing condition (pes planus) noted at entry into service.

The Veteran's left foot disability is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5276. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or etiology.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, including flat feet and peripheral neuropathy, to his service. The Veteran's symptoms began many years after service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 1, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence shows a more severe degree of disability since September 27, 2013.

The Board finds the Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in service and denied his claims for back, left foot, bilateral knee, and GERD disabilities.

The Veteran's pes planus and splayfeet are granted service connection, as they are related to his active service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted, with the diagnosis of PTSD being noted in the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and right foot disabilities, as there was no medical nexus between his current conditions and his active duty. The long period without any complaints or diagnoses post-service also weighed against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot fracture residuals are not of moderate severity, and the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed hip, pes planus, low back strain, neck disorder, or eye disorders. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability. The reopened claim, along with other issues on appeal, is remanded to the RO.