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

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's respiratory disorder and his service, nor did it find any link between his bilateral foot disorder and his military service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a seizure disorder. The claim for service connection for a seizure disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, which was a result of his military service, contributed to his death from pulmonary thromboembolism. The cause of death is therefore service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her sleep disorder and right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for flat feet was denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service and thus denied the claim. For his hypertension, the Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent rating effective May 29, 2012.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. His peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also service-connected as secondary to his diabetes. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be due to active military service, and he is granted service connection for PTSD. The issue of an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service, and his bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by service. The appeal for service connection on these issues is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed disabilities of the feet and back are not related to his military service, including his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus and asthma were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any of the requested increased evaluations.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at a 10 percent prior to April 9, 2015, and the Board found no evidence of more than severe symptoms warranting a higher rating. From April 9, 2015, the Veteran's condition has been rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his service-connected pes planus. The initial noncompensable rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and granted it, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his condition had its onset during active duty service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all of the issues on appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying claimed medical treatment. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, foot disability, eye disability, and back disability will be reconsidered after all requested development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus was granted, but no higher than the maximum allowable under current criteria. The Board found that his symptoms were fully contemplated by the existing rating criteria and did not warrant an increase in disability rating.

The Veteran's MRSA is found to be at least as likely as not related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear etiology of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine and right foot disabilities, as well as potential aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including status post bunionectomy and sesamoid excision with mild osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The service-connected pes planus is also rated at 10 percent. No higher ratings are warranted for either condition.