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

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as she did not meet the evidentiary burden in regards to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating, as his condition manifests with limitation of motion to 42 degrees flexion and 8 degrees extension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his right knee disability claim. The Veteran's right ankle disability was assigned a maximum 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, a right foot disability, and an effective date prior to March 17, 2003 for PTSD. The claim for higher initial rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has granted the appellant's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and gout and arthritis of multiple joints. The July 1979 rating decision denying right knee disability is not found to contain CUE.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed hemorrhoids and right foot disability did not begin in service or are otherwise related to service. As such, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to failure to obtain VA treatment records and provide addendum opinions on the Veteran's left toe condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and respiratory disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral heel spurs and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her periods of active duty or training.

The Veteran's right foot disability was rated at 20 percent effective May 17, 2016. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's right foot disability, characterized by fractures of the second and third metatarsals with a chop fracture of the first cuneiform, has been rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that an increased 10 percent rating is warranted based on moderate symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and work history.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for plantar fasciitis and sphenoid sinusitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of severe disability or chronic sinusitis warranting compensable ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot, knee, hip, and COPD disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active service or within one year of discharge. The preexisting pes planus was not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disability and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, right knee, left knee, and low back disorders as secondary to his service-connected left plantar calcaneal spur. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs are rated at 20% each, effective July 9, 2014. The Veteran's chronic costochondritis is not rated higher than 10%. The appeal for increased ratings is granted.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD and bilateral flat feet, as well as his claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, were denied by the Board. The appeals are now remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral foot strain was granted a 10 percent disability rating effective from November 19, 2008, to December 1, 2009.