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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus had its clinical onset in service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not incurred or aggravated by active service, as it pre-existed entry into service and did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher disability rating for his psychiatric disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability manifested by fatigue, hypertension, or dermatitis/eczema (claimed as skin irritation on the legs and arms). His headaches are service connected as tension headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was manifested by at most severe symptoms prior to May 29, 2013 and warrants a 30 percent disability rating from September 2, 2009 to May 19, 2013.

The Veteran's low back disability is related to his military service, and he has right ankle arthritis that is also related to his service. The Veteran's right knee disability requires further examination as it may be aggravated by other conditions.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus condition does not require any specific theory of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a new examination addressing the current severity of his bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for metastatic cancer of the lung, metastatic cancer of the liver, and colon carcinoma. The claim for secondary service connection for plantar fasciitis of the right foot was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to his homelessness and relocation issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be decided, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot condition, including pes planus, is related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and there are no allegations of errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus and denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disorders. The Veteran is now service-connected for pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right foot, and left shoulder disabilities. The gastrointestinal disability was not found to be incurred in or due to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially residuals of lumbar strain, left and right knee chondromalacia, left and right ankle strains, and left and right foot plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and likely etiology of his current bilateral foot disability, including neuropathy, as well as whether it was incurred in service due to exposure to harmful substances tested at Dugway Proving Ground.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and ankle DJD are not service-connected. The left foot amputation was due to a non-service-connected condition.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is denied as there is no evidence of an increase in severity during service, and his current disability is related to his pre-existing pes planus.,The Veteran's transmetatarsal amputation of the left foot is not service-connected. The claim for a temporary total rating due to convalescence following surgery is denied because the hospitalization was not for a service-connected condition.,The Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities that would warrant a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, seeking addendum opinions from the July 2015 VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of his right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral foot disorders, heart disorder, and bilateral venous insufficiency, and addressing the Veteran's complaints of sciatica in the lower extremities.