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

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including tinea pedis and plantar fasciitis. The Board has determined that the current examination and opinion are inadequate and remand is required for an additional VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to assess his functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and pilonidal cyst were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for a foot disability secondary to diabetes mellitus is considered unknown due to the lack of clear information.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left shoulder and upper arm, as well as his left hip, leg, and foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The medical evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because the additional disability (persistent pain and numbness in the left foot) is not considered to be caused by VA treatment, and there is no evidence of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral foot, ankle, and low back disabilities were denied as they are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has received a withdrawal of all appeals from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as his request for an increased rating for right foot pes planus, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Board will consider these issues after further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the anatomical loss or use of both feet, one hand and one foot, blindness in both eyes, or render him permanently bedridden or helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance. Therefore, his claim for SMC based on the need for the aid and attendance of another person is denied.

The Veteran does not have a current right hip disability, and the evidence does not establish service connection for any of his other claimed conditions. The Board finds that there is no basis to grant service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and hammer toe, right elbow fracture, and right hand fracture are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The appeals for increased ratings have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection was granted, with a 60% rating assigned for residuals of right knee replacement since May 1, 2010. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU from May 1, 2010 to July 14, 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dislocated ribs have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his military service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability did not have its onset during military service or is otherwise related to such service. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities was remanded and will be addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's GERD has been present since active service and the Board finds that it is related to service. The bilateral foot condition, diagnosed as pes planus (flat feet), was not shown to be acquired during service but rather congenital in nature.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, loss of vision, stomach disorder, deviated nasal septum, left and right pes planus, respiratory disorder to include asthma, and left ankle disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not attributable to service.

The Veteran's left foot condition, specifically plantar fasciitis, is found to be related to his service and granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disorder, finding that the current disability is related to service due to chronic issues in the left leg and foot.