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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for reflux esophagitis, lumbar spine disc disease, and bilateral pes planus due to unresolved issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature and etiology of her bilateral foot/lower leg disorders, including shin splints. The VA examiner will need to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including a left hip disability and related issues. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing new VA examinations for the Veteran's skin condition and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including scheduling a VA foot examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a VA scars examination to assess the current severity of her left forearm and forehead scars.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to evaluate his right knee and left heel conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and right hand conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis are met.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cough and assigned a 20 percent rating for the back disability. Other disabilities have been rated based on their specific criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the May 2014 decision regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus. The Veteran is required to provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current chronic ankle disability and his preexisting flat feet condition was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for both a bilateral foot disability and a bilateral ankle disability is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for neurological disorder is remanded as there are issues regarding its secondary nature.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral cold injury of the feet.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are considered in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for gender identity disorder (GID) resulting from a VA transphenoidal resection of a nonsecretory pituitary tumor in April 2008 is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding whether GID is related to the surgery and if so, whether it was caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of VA. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's bilateral foot condition claim due to an inadequate March 2013 VA examination. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim and must be deferred until the service connection claim is resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, left and right calcaneal spurs, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome with diverticulitis have been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since September 1, 2009. The Board has determined that a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent is warranted for the calcaneal spur disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with left hallux valgus and osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal was granted an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to February 28, 2013, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The disability is rated under Diagnostic Code 5276 for acquired flatfoot with marked deformity.