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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings have been denied. The RO/AMC has reviewed the evidence and determined that no new or material evidence has been received to reopen any previously denied service connection claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for dyshydrosis is granted, while his claims for hallux valgus, pes planus, tinea pedis, and xerosis are denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, and his widow requested substitution as the appellant. The issue of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's TBI with residual tension headaches is rated at 10 percent since January 17, 2013. The left ankle disability remains noncompensable prior to December 3, 2010 and rated at 10 percent since then. Bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent since January 9, 2013. Right and left calcaneal spurs are each rated at 10 percent since December 3, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus is rated at a 50 percent disability rating since October 30, 2013. The condition more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus, recurrent skin rash disability (including acne and tinea pedia), and right hand residual scarring are all granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet preexisted service and were not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral flat feet is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA Compensation examination and obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his status post excision of plantar fibroma was denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately compensated him for his disabilities, including neurologic manifestations and scars.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current disability of bilateral pes planus and whether any pes planus is related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional development. The Veteran is required to provide information about any private medical records that may be relevant.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet disability has been manifested by characteristic callosities, swelling on use, accentuated pain on use, and objective evidence of marked deformities (moderate pronation), without objective evidence of extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces of the feet or marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet disability has been evaluated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, IBS as due to undiagnosed illness, headaches as due to undiagnosed illness, and muscle fatigue as due to undiagnosed illness. The left foot disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The claim for a compensable rating for tension headaches is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot disability, and right ankle disability. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus have been rated based on their severity, with the highest available rating for each condition. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional action regarding the Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet with hammertoes, as well as his claims of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder and low back pain. The issues of whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen these claims were not addressed.