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

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral plantar fibromatosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is required to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right leg disability. The case is REMANDED for an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the June 2010 VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus were aggravated by his active military service, and granted service connection for these conditions. The current chronic bilateral ankle strain was also found to be incurred in active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip and bilateral foot disabilities were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, thus denying the claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus was not permanently worsened during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's flat feet and neck injury are secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including his mood disorder. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a staged rating of 30 percent from November 17, 2008 to December 5, 2011 and a 50 percent rating since then. The Veteran's low back strain is denied as the evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis and heel spur, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, iatrogenic, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The Veteran is entitled to a 10% rating for his left foot condition.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability has been productive of moderate disability manifested by pain on manipulation and use accentuated, swelling on use in each foot; there has been no objective evidence of marked pronation or characteristic callosities. The criteria for the assignment of initial separate 10 percent ratings have been met.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his recent move and the need for a rescheduled Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for multiple disabilities are referred back to the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The issues include entitlement to increased ratings for various ankle disabilities and service connection for a back disability and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from March 2007 to August 2012 at Sierra Vista Dental, M.A.L., D.D.S., and J.B.L., D.M.D was denied as the treatment was not authorized in advance by VA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, and secondary service connection for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and granted an initial 10% rating for each foot for bilateral plantar fasciitis, but the ratings are subject to rules governing payment of VA monetary benefits.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is manifested by complaints of pain and objective findings of pain to palpation at the insertion of the plantar fascia, bilaterally. The criteria for an initial rating greater than 10 percent are not satisfied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to March 29, 2007. The disability picture did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability rating is at least 80%, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, as they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral plantar fasciitis and GERD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for mitral valve regurgitation, bilateral leg swelling, hypertension with headaches, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, dependent personality feature, individual unemployability, and Dependents Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. § 35.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis/Achilles tendonitis is rated at 50 percent.