Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral knee and foot disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and increased ratings for various knee disabilities, as well as his right eye disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ after completion of this development.

The Veteran's asthma disability is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The Board denied the remaining claims for service connection.

The Veteran's shortening of the right lower extremity is found to be caused by his service-connected right sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lung disorder and foot disability claims were denied. The lung disorder claim was based on exposure to mustard gas, but no such condition was found. The foot disability claim was granted service connection, but the effective date is set at September 13, 1999.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus are related to his service. The criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or a bilateral foot disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with calluses, osteotomies and hallux rigidus prior to September 1, 2000 is denied. The appellant is currently assigned the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral foot, knee, and back disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide any outstanding medical records and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's left foot fracture residuals were rated at 10 percent prior to March 15, 2013 and granted a 20 percent rating effective from March 15, 2013. The Board denied an increased rating in excess of these assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, asthma, stomach disability, left ear hearing loss, right kidney disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and higher initial ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and to obtain any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of all periods of active service and obtaining VA treatment records from January 2015 onwards. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if any identified foot disability preexisted service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus prior to October 3, 2014 is denied. Since October 3, 2014, the Veteran has been granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated beyond its natural progression. For his low back disability with left leg radiculopathy, the VA examiner found no evidence of a pre-service condition or aggravation by service. The opinion relied on post-service medical records for conclusions about the onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis are manifested by subjective complaints of pain, stiffness, and swelling, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.