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

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further adjudication as the combined rating percentage requirement of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) is not met, and the issue should be referred to the VA Under Secretary for Benefits or the VA Director of the Compensation and Pension Service for adjudication under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination reports and unclear medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right foot disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of his periods of active duty service and VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability and remanded it for further development, including obtaining additional STRs and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is manifested by pronounced flatfoot with marked pronation and extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces, which significantly impacts his ability to stand and walk. The disability meets the criteria for a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The case will be adjudicated on a direct basis as no presumption or secondary theory applies.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's sleep disorder and GSW residuals. The issues of service connection for a sleep disorder and an increased rating for GSW residuals are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is attributable to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, and the matter is remanded to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted due to combined effects of multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 5276. The other issues have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs and osteophytes is not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims file, including obtaining missing service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral pes planus or a right foot disorder that manifested in service and is otherwise related to his military service. Therefore, he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of his claim for service connection for asthma, also claimed as restrictive lung disease with upper respiratory infections and pneumonia. The issue of bilateral pes planus is being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, including arthritis of the right foot and calluses of the left foot, was not incurred in service. The medical evidence did not support a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was incurred in service, but denied his claims for left ear hearing loss and left foot disabilities as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for tinnitus is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at 50% since the effective date of this decision, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5276 for severe flatfoot with marked deformity and pronation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, hammertoe of both great toes and bunions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 21, 2014 and in excess of 30 percent therefrom.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted.