Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the period under appeal, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's positional sleep apnea is likely attributable to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and finds that the Veteran's current back disability is less likely than not related to his military service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle arthritis and plantar fasciitis of the left foot are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted service connection and rated at 30 percent effective June 20, 2014. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his left foot disability claim. The right thumb and bilateral plantar fasciitis/right foot conditions were not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, requesting authorization to release private treatment records, and providing a VA examination to determine the nature of any diagnosed foot disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that it is related to his service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 10 percent prior to March 4, 2015, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were granted, with the right foot pes planus receiving a 10 percent rating prior to February 10, 2015 and a 20 percent rating thereafter. The lumbar spine disability received a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period. The right hip disability also received a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge due to relocation issues and the need for proper notification.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral calcaneal spurs, a metatarsal disability (claimed as plantar dorsiflexed metatarsals), and neuromas (claimed as pinched nerves in both feet). The claim for service connection for right foot plantar keratosis was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for palmoplantar keratoderma and left ear hearing loss, including a request to refer his palmoplantar keratoderma claim for extraschedular evaluation. The case is also referred for consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a scheduling conflict, and the Veteran's request for a hearing by videoconference at the RO.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and service connection for bilateral hip arthritis and pes planus has been granted based on their association with his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, plantar warts, lumbar and cervical spine DJD, hip and shoulder DJD, preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot disabilities due to missing VA examination reports and treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain updated private treatment records related to her feet and knees, as well as any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The left and right shoulder disabilities are presumed to have been caused by a pre-existing condition, while the bilateral foot disability is considered to be unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus and sinus and tension headaches were not incurred or aggravated during her periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient VA examination opinions and incomplete medical records. The case will be returned to the RO or AMC for further adjudication.