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

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is not a severe disability, characterized by objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.), pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, and characteristic callosities. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of any esophageal disability and addressing whether it is proximately due to or the result of service-connected status post removal of eighteen inches of intestine with scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and left foot bunion were aggravated by her military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, as well as his left shoulder disability are all found to be related to service.,For the ankle disabilities, the Veteran's right ankle gout is found to have preexisted service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as well as for the Veteran to provide additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been productive of no more than marked impairment, and the preponderance of evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral pes planus are related to his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral leg disability (other than pes planus) is also related to his service, particularly when resolving the benefit of the doubt in his favor.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for sleep apnea, but denied for other conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder strain was not found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to June 4, 2011, and as 30 percent thereafter. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee traumatic arthritis, left heel plantar fasciitis, and hemorrhoids were denied. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability, characterized by pes planus with plantar fasciitis and sinus tarsi syndrome, was productive of symptoms consistent with severe pes planus disability; pronounced disability has not been more nearly approximated. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the condition prior to February 2, 2012, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from that date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to determine the severity of his lumbar disc disease, depressive disorder, and pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, pes cavus/claw foot, and hammer toes, is not service connected. His left shin splints with history of stress fracture of the left distal fibula and right shin splints are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet have been productive of pain on manipulation and use, as well as swelling throughout the period on appeal. The disability is rated at a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, left foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and below-the-knee amputation of the right leg to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral giant papillary conjunctivitis is at least as likely as not related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for refractive error is dismissed as he has withdrawn his request for this matter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a scheduled video conference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.