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

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral pes planus was increased to 30 percent, but the Board found no need for an extraschedular rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis warrants a separate 10 percent rating for each foot, more closely approximating moderate impairment. The decision also addressed other issues but did not result in any changes to those decisions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of neck, low back, or bilateral foot disabilities and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and right and left plantar pain are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, leading to a denial of both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs, both rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's hypertension is not entitled to a higher rating as his blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating. His bilateral pes planus does not warrant a higher than 10 percent disability rating due to its current symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder or plantar fasciitis, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The Board also found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current plantar fasciitis to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have sinusitis or a bilateral foot disability due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an eye injury and for a higher initial rating for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed eye disability, as there is no current evidence of residual disability from the in-service injury. For his bilateral pes planus, the Board found that the condition does not meet the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation based on objective evidence of marked deformity and characteristic callosities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for calluses of the feet, finding that there was no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim. The Board also determined that a current disability superimposed on the Veteran's congenital pes planus (a defect) has not been demonstrated during military service.

The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated as noncompensable, with flexion limited to at least 130 degrees.,Left shoulder strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran has pain but no additional loss of range of motion after repetitive use testing.,Left heel bursitis and right foot plantar fasciitis are both rated as noncompensable, with symptoms including pain, swelling, and orthotic use.

The Board found no new evidence to reopen the claims and denied service connection for right knee and foot disorders, as well as a right ankle disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and arranging for VA examinations to address service connection claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's pes planus, a preexisting condition noted on entry into service, was permanently aggravated by his active service and grants service connection for this bilateral foot disorder.

The Board found no service connection for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, IBS, or joint and muscle pain due to lack of a showing of chronic disease during service. The claim for joint and muscle pain was denied as there were conflicting opinions regarding whether fibromyalgia should be diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional consideration due to a request for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his service-connected PTSD, headaches, right shoulder disability/arthritis, left shoulder disability/arthritis, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service foot symptoms and treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is not related to his active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for ventricular/auricular contractures, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were withdrawn. The claims of increased evaluations for lumbar spine, left hip arthritis, bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis), left foot disability, and right foot disability have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and hammertoe deformities was rated at 30 percent since January 28, 2009. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.