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

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral pes planus as it had its onset during active duty service. Service connection was not granted for right incomplete bundle branch block due to lack of aggravation by a super-imposed injury during active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings and reopening of service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since February 14, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether he has been able to obtain or maintain such employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability other than heel spurs, osteophytes, and Reiter's syndrome due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current right foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right foot disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher rating as it does not demonstrate additional functional loss or impairment beyond what is contemplated by the current 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that a chronic bilateral foot disability, including skin disability of the feet, did not manifest in service and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left foot disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The case is being remanded for further development and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, DJD and calcaneal spurs of the right foot were denied initial compensable evaluations for the periods prior to March 22, 2011 and from March 22, 2011 to February 28, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus has been denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 claim is pending. The RO denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, right and left knee degenerative joint disease with chronic patellar tendonitis, and instability of the knees.,Service connection was granted for right and left knee degenerative joint disease with chronic patellar tendonitis, each rated at 10 percent effective April 13, 2009. The RO also granted separate 10 percent disability ratings for instability of each knee, effective May 4, 2011.

The Veteran's residuals of a healed fracture of the right foot are rated at 10 percent, and her right foot pes planus is rated as an initial compensable rating. The degenerative arthritis of the right foot does not warrant a separate rating.

The Board found no evidence of a current left foot disability and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for her claimed right knee and dorsal spine disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to October 10, 2014 and increased to 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran is also service-connected for bilateral metatarsalgia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral foot edema.,Service connection has been established for all three conditions: bilateral metatarsalgia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral foot edema.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and associated conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show more than moderate or severe pes planus, which do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left-shoulder and right-foot disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

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

The Veteran's current right foot disability is etiologically related to her service-connected left foot disability, and the Board has determined that this meets the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of any respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions and service connection theories are not addressed as the appeal does not pertain to these matters.