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

The Veteran's left foot fracture residuals were rated at 10 percent prior to March 15, 2013 and granted a 20 percent rating effective from March 15, 2013. The Board denied an increased rating in excess of these assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, asthma, stomach disability, left ear hearing loss, right kidney disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and higher initial ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and to obtain any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of all periods of active service and obtaining VA treatment records from January 2015 onwards. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if any identified foot disability preexisted service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus prior to October 3, 2014 is denied. Since October 3, 2014, the Veteran has been granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated beyond its natural progression. For his low back disability with left leg radiculopathy, the VA examiner found no evidence of a pre-service condition or aggravation by service. The opinion relied on post-service medical records for conclusions about the onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis are manifested by subjective complaints of pain, stiffness, and swelling, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes cavus with shortened plantar fascia, peroneal tendonitis and peroneal atrophy prevent him from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent from June 25, 2002 to July 27, 2006.,For the period from July 28, 2006 to August 30, 2006, a rating of 30 percent was granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from August 31, 2006 to September 16, 2009 was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral calluses and left foot scar are currently rated as 10 percent each, but no higher, for the right and left feet. The Board finds that a rating of 10% is warranted under the former criteria for DC 7804.

The Veteran's pes planus is service-connected and rated at 10 percent, effective October 21, 2004. The Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis due to aggravation by his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating based on his combined 80 percent disability rating from his psychiatric, low back, and bilateral knee conditions. The Board has granted a TDIU rating in this case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right elbow s/p knot removal; and to left elbow-arm secondary to left shoulder. The Veteran's other claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected foot disabilities, including whether higher initial ratings are warranted under all relevant regulations and legal theories.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings in several areas, including hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, psychiatric disability, hypertension, epicondylitis of the left elbow, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hearing loss during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including arthritis and plantar fasciitis. The preexisting bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus warrants staged initial disability ratings of 30 percent prior to June 21, 2002, and of 50 percent from that date.