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

The Board denied service connection for right foot hammertoes, nerve damage to the right foot, nerve damage to the right leg, and a right knee disability (including as secondary to a right foot disability).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a vocational expert opinion regarding his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied, as the pre-existing pes planus did not worsen during service and the lumbar DDD and bilateral knee DJD are due to aging. The effective date of CAD service connection is set at February 23, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal of his service connection claims for residuals of a broken right fifth finger and residuals of a broken nose have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining FMLA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back and cervical spine disabilities; hypertension and plantar fasciitis of the left and right feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus disorder was not aggravated by service, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinea pedis and calloused skin of the right plantar foot, which he claims are due to exposure to diesel fuel during his military service. The Board has ordered additional development as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and right calcaneal spur, effective from February 13, 2014. The initial evaluation was previously 0 percent prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is currently rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that the June 2010 VA examination was adequate and addresses all relevant aspects of the Veteran's symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are related to his active service, while the right knee disability is not. The Veteran's claims for right foot and left foot disabilities have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development to address the issues of entitlement to service connection for pes planus, a bilateral hip disorder, and a left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for status post bursectomy, right hip and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for plantar fasciitis of the feet, shin splints, and dry eye syndrome are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and found no CUE in the January 1979 rating decision that denied service connection for bilateral foot disorder.

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

The Board has established service connection for bilateral pes planus and granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The decision also addressed the issue of whether there was a relationship between the Veteran's foot problems and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his bilateral foot disability was denied. The Board found that the current rating of 30 percent adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms, including pain and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating assigned for right calcaneal tendonitis was upheld, as was the denial of service connection for bilateral pes planus, sinusitis, bronchitis, left foot disability, and right foot disability.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of September 10, 2008 for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for her service-connected bilateral pes planus disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least in part due to military sexual trauma. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss and pes planus (fallen arches).