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

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a back disability, including as secondary to the foot condition. The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete personnel records and unclear current diagnoses.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the decision on the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected foot disability can be made. The case is therefore REMANDED to allow for such development.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be a chronic disability that manifested within one year of discharge from active service, meeting the criteria for service connection. The claims for asthma, left knee and left foot disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the May 2008 VA medical examination is inadequate and additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination for bilateral flat feet, is needed. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise trauma in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right heel fracture and resulting pes planus are not considered to be due to VA care, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, including those from the Richmond VA Medical Center. The AOJ will review the record and conduct any additional development deemed necessary before re-adjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, asthma, hemorrhoids, Morton's neuroma, sinusitis, hypertension, right and left shoulder disabilities, a right knee disability, otitis media, rhinitis, costochondritis, GERD, headaches, and left testicle epididymitis. The Veteran does not have hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. His claim for an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis was also denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral foot strain with heel spurs and pes planus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 5284 for residuals of other foot injuries. The disability is characterized by no more than moderate pes planus with pain on use, and heel spurs shown on X-ray study.

The Veteran's appeal has been granted for service connection of various conditions, including sleep apnea, Reiter's syndrome/reactive arthritis, urethritis and prostatitis, chronic sinusitis, conjunctivitis with dry eyes, joint and muscle pain, allergic rhinitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, gastrointestinal disorder. Effective dates have also been assigned for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues are whether she should be granted initial compensable ratings for bilateral pes planus and microcytic anemia.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has been characterized by pain and the need for shoe inserts. The Board determined that a compensable rating of 10 percent is warranted, but no higher.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot pes planus, duodenal ulcer, and varicose veins. The issues of service connection for depression, a back disorder, compensable ratings for hand injuries, traumatic brain injury, and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right foot disability and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need to obtain inpatient hospital records, military personnel records, and VA treatment records. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine if any current hepatitis C disability is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease (Endolymphatic Hydrops) has been granted. The claims for bilateral pes planus and a disability manifested by chest pain have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and therefore, does not meet the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with service connection established for bilateral flat feet. The higher ratings for tendonitis of the right Achilles tendon and posterior calcaneal spur of the right heel are dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from Social Security Administration.