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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral calcaneal stress fractures have been rated at the maximum disability rating (20%) under Diagnostic Code 5271, which pertains to marked limitation of motion of the ankle. The evidence shows that both ankles exhibit less movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, pain on movement, swelling, disturbance of locomotion, and interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing after repetitive use.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral calcaneal stress fractures have been rated at the maximum disability rating (20%) under Diagnostic Code 5271, which pertains to marked limitation of motion of the ankle. The evidence shows that both ankles exhibit less movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, pain on movement, swelling, disturbance of locomotion, and interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing after repetitive use.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus to his active duty service and concluded that it was not caused or aggravated by any other service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral pes cavus is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was not exacerbated by his military service and that his headaches, cyst/tumor/growth on his head and neck, and respiratory disorder are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 16, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 25, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a subdermal mass in his upper left chest, sleep apnea on a secondary basis to service-connected sinusitis and/or hypertension, and foot disability. The decision concludes that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or any other compensable condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining her treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her bilateral foot disorder. The claims will be adjudicated again after these actions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as his Substantive Appeal was not timely filed for the issues of service connection and increased evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, including plantar fasciitis and arthritis, was denied by the RO. The denial is based on the lack of evidence showing continuity of symptomatology since service discharge.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, sinusitis, and right foot disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran does not have current disabilities for which he seeks service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left elbow disabilities, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not establish that any current disability was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot neuroma and associated conditions have been rated as 20 percent disabling since November 17, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus due to aggravation during military service. The claim for other foot disorders is remanded as additional records are needed and a medical opinion is required.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated as 10 percent prior to August 23, 2005 and as 30 percent from August 23, 2005 to July 21, 2009. The Board found that a higher rating for the disability during this period is not warranted.

The Veteran's left foot disability, characterized by painful motion and difficulty with standing and walking, warrants a rating of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5284.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish that he met the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, eye disability (presbyopia), or nosebleeds. His hypertension was found to have its onset in service and is presumed to be related to his military service. The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are considered direct service-connected based on their manifestation during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his jaw condition and the nature and etiology of any current foot disability. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional evidence has been considered.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus. The medical opinion indicates that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus was aggravated during his time in the Army, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, arranging for new VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and callouses, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome, and determining whether staged ratings are appropriate.