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

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no competent evidence suggesting a relationship to service. The low back disability and bilateral foot disabilities were also not related to service.,Service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not have these conditions during service or within one year of discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities aggravated his bilateral foot disability. The claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for pneumonia with decreased pulmonary function and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on reopening his claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for anterior uveitis, as well as rescheduling a VA examination for hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as pes cavus, was incurred in service and is granted. The Veteran's upper back disability has not been linked to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on five of the six issues, leaving only the issue of service connection for TBI. The Board dismissed these withdrawn claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and heart disability were denied. The appeal was also denied as the highest possible rating of 70% for PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, leg disability, or left foot disability that is service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The right knee disorder, ingrown toenails of the right foot and fungal infection of the right toenail, ingrown toenails of the left foot and fungal infection of the left toenail, and a left foot disorder are all being addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling error for a Board hearing. The issues of rating ratings, service connection, and effective date are still pending.

The Veteran's right side facial numbness is rated at 30 percent, effective July 11, 2008.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, effective July 11, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of these conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating of 70 percent for service-connected disabilities from June 1, 2004 to March 10, 2005 and 90 percent thereafter meets the threshold requirements for a TDIU. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for service-connected bilateral pes planus is denied. The earliest possible effective date of March 18, 2011, was assigned as the increased rating was granted on that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the provision of his most recent VA outpatient treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot pes planus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent since the effective date of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for his bilateral foot disorders, concluding that they were not incurred or aggravated by service and are not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal for sleep apnea. The Board found that bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in active duty service.