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

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The appeal is also remanded for scheduling a new hearing.

The Board granted service connection for right sciatica and assigned a 10 percent initial rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus pre-existed military service and did not chronically worsen therein, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a wound to the back of the head, lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus of the right foot was granted. The effective date is April 11, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, his claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is a congenital defect, disease or injury. The examiner should consider the provided definitions and the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for additional medical examinations to address her bilateral pes planus, shin splints/pain, lower back disorder, right hip degenerative joint disease, and left hip degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal of the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for plantar keratoses of the left foot with associated scars.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since August 2003, leading to the grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective August 13, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted, specifically bilateral ankle disability. The claims of entitlement to service connection for pes planus and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to September 30, 2015 and upgraded to 50 percent beginning September 30, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and a rectal condition, including hemorrhoids and fecal leakage. Service connection for bilateral hallux rigidus is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral flat feet and whether they are otherwise incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employment. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated in conjunction with the psychiatric disorder issue.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate a secondary service connection issue for back pain. The Board will also consider whether the Veteran's TDIU claim can be granted on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's plantar fasciitis is related to service, while his degenerative arthritis and hallux valgus are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any injury or incident in service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VA examination opinions and need for updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and back disorder, as well as verify his claimed stressors for PTSD. The claims are currently pending.