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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes cavus with shortened plantar fascia, peroneal tendonitis and peroneal atrophy prevent him from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent from June 25, 2002 to July 27, 2006.,For the period from July 28, 2006 to August 30, 2006, a rating of 30 percent was granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from August 31, 2006 to September 16, 2009 was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral calluses and left foot scar are currently rated as 10 percent each, but no higher, for the right and left feet. The Board finds that a rating of 10% is warranted under the former criteria for DC 7804.

The Veteran's pes planus is service-connected and rated at 10 percent, effective October 21, 2004. The Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis due to aggravation by his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating based on his combined 80 percent disability rating from his psychiatric, low back, and bilateral knee conditions. The Board has granted a TDIU rating in this case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right elbow s/p knot removal; and to left elbow-arm secondary to left shoulder. The Veteran's other claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected foot disabilities, including whether higher initial ratings are warranted under all relevant regulations and legal theories.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings in several areas, including hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, psychiatric disability, hypertension, epicondylitis of the left elbow, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hearing loss during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including arthritis and plantar fasciitis. The preexisting bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus warrants staged initial disability ratings of 30 percent prior to June 21, 2002, and of 50 percent from that date.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has been rated at a maximum of 50 percent since October 1, 2009.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a higher rating for tinea cruris and is remanding the issue of reopening the service connection claim for bilateral foot disability due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left foot plantar fasciitis with atrophic fat pads have been rated at 30 percent each since February 8, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and a new examination for his bilateral pes planus. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the increased evaluation claim.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a higher evaluation of 30 percent effective January 10, 2007. The Board also granted an increased evaluation for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus did not permanently increase in severity during service and is not otherwise shown to be related to service. The Board concluded that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his post-service employment.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for the adjustment disorder, as well as service connection for a right ankle and foot disability, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis, which includes the right and left feet. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is also addressed in this decision.