Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disabilities are less likely than not caused by a back injury during military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and opinions regarding his bilateral foot disability and acquired psychiatric disorder. The RO must also obtain all available service treatment records.

The Veteran's pes planus and hallux valgus were granted service connection, but the Board denied a higher rating for both conditions.,Arthritis of the bilateral foot was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding her service connection claims and a VA medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation for pes planus and a TDIU rating. The Veteran's claims are pending further action.

The Veteran's Achilles tendonitis was incurred during service and granted service connection.,Bilateral pes planus with hallux limitus and hammertoe deformity, which preexisted service, was aggravated by service. Service connection for this condition is also granted.,HSV (Herpes Simplex) is manifested by painful sores and has been assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, and requesting authorization to obtain Hanger Clinic records. The case will be returned for readjudication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The pre-existing TBI is found to have been aggravated by active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and to clarify the etiology of his claimed bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability has been granted and rendered moot, thus dismissing this claim without prejudice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing due to his failure to appear at the scheduled date. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, with symptoms relieved by arch supports, more nearly approximates a moderate disability level.

The Veteran's pes planus is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The right ankle sprain issue was granted service connection.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is manifested by pain and tenderness over the plantar aspect of the foot, limiting his ability to stand for long periods. The Board has determined that a higher rating under DC 5284 (foot injuries, other) is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability to include hypertension was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted, thus denying the reopening of his claim. His right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent due to marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and the evidence does not support service connection for any of her claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 10% disability rating for scars of the forehead and chin was denied. The claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including PTSD with depression, were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as a residual of an in-service head injury (claimed as TBI). The remaining claims for service connection have been denied.