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

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, with the combined rating of his conditions reaching at least 70%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus warrants a 10% disability rating, effective from July 19, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the etiology of any right foot disability as well as the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and requesting Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including the verification of his periods of active duty and inactive duty training, and for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent, and his PTSD was rated at 30 percent. The decision is mixed as it granted a higher rating for one condition (PTSD) but denied the request for an increased rating for another (bilateral pes planus).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disability and bilateral pes planus, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for postconcussive syndrome with recurrent headaches. The Veteran did not have a distinct upper back disability other than that already service-connected. His PTSD symptoms were considered under the criteria for TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU under the February 2013 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The RO must clarify his current service-connected disabilities and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left foot disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and a new opinion regarding tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis had its clinical onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability and an increased rating for his left knee disability, as well as his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision also granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability must be addressed again with a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to service, and granted service connection for this condition. The left hip disability and shoulder disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a foot disability and for a disability manifested by enlarged lymph nodes, finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis were initially manifested by chronic tenderness of the plantar surface of each foot following his service discharge. From February 27, 2009, the medical evidence demonstrates increased foot pain, to include a stinging sensation, of such severity as to interfere with ambulation or requiring the Veteran to get off his feet to reduce the pain.,The criteria for a separate, initial 10 percent evaluation for pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the right foot with inferior calcaneal spur, and for a separate, initial 10 percent evaluation for pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the left foot with inferior calcaneal spur are met prior to February 27, 2009. The criteria for a separate, initial 20 percent evaluation for pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the right foot with inferior calcaneal spur, and for a separate, initial 20 percent evaluation for pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the left foot with inferior calcaneal spur are met from February 27, 2009.

The Board has ordered a remand due to incomplete examination and treatment records, as well as the need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee and plantar fasciitis claims.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, his vertigo is rated at 30 percent, and his bilateral pes planus with left heel spur is rated as noncompensable. The appeal is granted for the migraine headaches and vertigo issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral osteal degenerative disease (lumbar spine disability), tinea versicolor, left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral elbow epicondylitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and bilateral pes planus.

The Board found that the pre-existing right ankle and foot disability did not increase in severity during service, thus denying service connection. The claim of service connection for Crohn's disease is remanded due to insufficient evidence.