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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, left foot, and left lower leg disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence. The claim for increased rating for residuals of left ankle fracture was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus prevents him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's tinnitus claim and his service-connected right foot, left hip, and right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal prior to February 26, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding any other foot disabilities, including Morton's disease and a recent fracture of the left fourth toe.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection, except for a left hand disorder which was granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and as such the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a skin disability of the face as a result of his active duty service. The claim for right foot and urinary disabilities is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 50 percent disabling effective August 7, 2015. This represents the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the condition was noted upon entrance into service and did not increase in severity during service. The examiner determined that the disability preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability with recurrent sprains and DJD, is granted as service connected. The other conditions are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the evidence received since the July 2014 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities, as well as service connection for a neurological disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining SSA records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and right knee disability. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are rated at 30 percent since February 3, 2014. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for the right and left hallux valgus with arthritis remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability is related to service, and thus granted service connection for a right foot disability. The issue of whether the Veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disability remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and emphysema. The remaining issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, compensable rating for hearing loss, and TDIU are pending.