Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, and it is now on the merits. The Veteran contends that his pre-existing bilateral foot conditions were aggravated by his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased evaluations for his bilateral plantar fasciitis are also denied.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and testicular cancer was not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the appellant's current left ankle and foot disability did not manifest in service or is otherwise etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral flat feet disability did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his military service, and thus cannot be considered service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at 30 percent since September 12, 2006. The Board found that the disability is severe but not pronounced, thus denying a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral calcaneal spurs, and bilateral plantar calcaneal spurs. Service connection for RA is denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current bilateral foot or right ankle disability, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left leg and foot disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, residuals of a left shoulder injury, and migraines. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis in the left wrist, no manifestations of hypertension or diabetes to a degree of 10 percent within one year post-service, and insufficient continuity of symptoms since service for these conditions. The low back disability was not shown in service, did not manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year from separation, and is not otherwise related to service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and heart condition claims were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disc disease warrants a 20 percent rating from April 18, 2011 to February 24, 2015. For periods prior to and after this date, the disability does not warrant an increased rating. The service connection claim for a foot disability is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was incurred in service and the Board grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's right elbow epicondylitis was found to have begun during service and is therefore granted service connection. The other issues are not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been resolved by a September 2016 rating decision, which granted the claim and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter further.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial compensable rating claim was also denied. The Veteran does not have a low back disorder or hip degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's right and left plantar fasciitis were granted initial ratings of 10 percent prior to January 13, 2016. On and after that date, the Veteran was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for both conditions.,For his hallux valgus, the Veteran received separate 10 percent ratings prior to January 13, 2016. After that date, he was also denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee injury, patella fracture, post-operative is not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a stomach condition related to military service. The Veteran's current gastritis and GERD are less likely caused by his prescribed medications for service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected bilateral pes planus, as per recent Court holdings in Sharp v. Shulkin and Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, pes planus, and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his bilateral foot disability and for TDIU prior to February 8, 2012. The evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.