Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot condition, including pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and Morton's neuroma. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was not aggravated by service, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, Type II diabetes mellitus, and diabetic retinopathy are not service-connected as the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs of the left foot is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds this rating to be appropriate given the symptoms described.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for his bilateral foot condition will be reconsidered after these steps.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 70 percent rating, effective from March 29, 2011 to July 31, 2012, and from May 21, 2014. The Veteran's TDIU based on PTSD was also granted during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has not been shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 15, 2016 or 30 percent from that date. The Board also found no evidence of pronounced symptomatology warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during or as a result of his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left foot disability, but denied the claim as there was no evidence of a current disability in service or at any time thereafter. The Board also determined that the appellant's left foot plantar fasciitis is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and PFB have been granted service connection, with a noncompensable initial rating for both conditions. The Board has determined that the Veteran's calluses on his feet meet the criteria for a 10% rating under DC 5284, while his PFB does not warrant any compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis and a back condition. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations and TDIU prior to September 6, 2016 was granted. The decision also addressed the separate evaluation of right foot hallux valgus and extraschedular consideration for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar fasciitis in either foot, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right foot plantar fasciitis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint degenerative disease with bicep tendonitis and partial subscapularis tendon tear, right shoulder glenohumeral degenerative joint disease (DJD), cervical spine DJD prior to March 2, 2017, cervical spine DJD since March 2, 2017, thoracolumbar spine DJD prior to August 1, 2014, and PTSD prior to March 1, 2017 have all been denied.,The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine DJD since August 1, 2014 and PTSD since March 1, 2017 has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, left foot plantar fasciitis, right and left knee disorders, and hearing loss. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to determine these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of plantar fascitis and pes planus, and denied an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service treatment records, as well as arranging for new medical examinations to assess his claimed conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis with chronic right sesamoiditis during the hearing before the Board. The case is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and skin disability. The underlying service connection claims for bilateral foot disability and bilateral leg disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.