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

The Veteran's left foot disability, including tarsal tunnel syndrome and surgical scars, resulted in a total loss of use to the extent that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump with prosthesis. The Veteran is therefore entitled to a 40% rating for her left foot disability and special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left foot since February 19, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left foot pes planus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right foot and ankle deformity with arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Panama and denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. The bilateral foot disability was also denied as not related to the diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's left foot disability, specifically pes planus, was incurred or aggravated during his service. The issue also includes determining whether a pre-existing condition existed and if it worsened during his second period of active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage requirements and render him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service, and thus cannot be granted service connection. The claim for chronic sinusitis is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for liver disorder, gallbladder disorder, kidney lesions and stones, body stress rash release and trauma, polymyalgia rheumatic, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues are pending.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is pending.

The Board has determined that additional VA examination is necessary due to the inaccuracy of the medical history provided by the Veteran, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, a VA foot examination to determine the nature and etiology of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus, and readjudication of the service connection claim.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's active service and his current diagnosis of pes planus, concluding that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a bilateral foot disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for calcific tendinitis of the right elbow has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral leg and foot disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar warts is granted, with the effective date set at September 17, 2009.,Service connection for rhinitis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the irregular heartbeat claim. The Board found that service connection for bilateral pes planus, a skin disorder claimed as acne and razor burn, and bilateral wrist disability is not warranted based on lack of evidence of an increase in severity during service or aggravation by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his bilateral foot disability claim and consideration of the back disability claim as secondary to a pre-existing bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability, to include degenerative arthritis; and a low back disability, to include degenerative arthritis.