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

The Veteran's fatty liver disease and bilateral pes planus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence, including the need for additional medical opinions and a Statement of the Case on tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of VA examinations regarding his hypertension and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service-connected, but his bilateral pes planus was aggravated by active service. The Veteran has been granted an initial 10 percent rating for GERD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has been manifested by no more than moderate symptoms from September 2, 2009 to May 19, 2013. The disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left foot disabilities are not related to service, including any reported injuries or conditions during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his bilateral foot disability was denied in a July 1970 rating decision. He did not appeal this denial, making it final and binding on him based on the evidence then of record. The effective date cannot be earlier than the date of his petition to reopen the claim in May 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during his active service and concluding that any current disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted an initial noncompensable rating for right foot plantar fasciitis and a separate noncompensable rating for Morton's neuroma of the right foot. The combined ratings result in a total noncompensable disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus with left heel spur due to inadequate consideration of alternative diagnostic codes and failure to provide a statement of reasons and bases.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, asthma, lumbosacral strain, right quadriceps strain, hemorrhoids, left bunion with pes planus, and other conditions. The claims are being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding whether his current diagnoses of plantar fasciitis and right median nerve motor axonal neuropathy were related to his military service or if they were aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral pes planus is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability of the right ulnar nerve, and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The issues related to his right foot, knee, and ankle disabilities were also addressed.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with associated plantar fasciitis was denied as the evidence did not show marked deformity or pronounced disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus with associated conditions, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, were both granted. The effective dates are set at March 4, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection, and his left ankle swelling was granted a 40% rating effective January 1, 2007. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.