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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle, shoulder, left knee, and back conditions are found to be related to service.,The Veteran's right knee condition is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and bilateral foot disorder have been granted. The evidence supports these findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of a right leg disability is remanded as additional development is needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be proximately due to his use of NSAIDs for service-connected pes cavus, and thus granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected foot and low back disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not worsen during service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left foot disability, which includes painful accessory navicular bone and plantar fasciitis, has been rated at 20 percent since September 2004. The Board finds that the current rating of 20 percent adequately reflects the severity of the disability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board video hearing. The issues of entitlement to a temporary total rating and service connection for bilateral flat feet are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his pes planus and skin conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 15, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records of ACDUTRA service and obtaining VA opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. For bilateral pes planus, he is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to August 6, 2015 and is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent on or after that date.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is rated at 10% since July 16, 2009. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the origins of his bilateral pes planus, as well as increased ratings for PTSD with a major depressive disorder and hand tremors. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for TMJ, but denied the remaining claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder not otherwise specified, is service-connected. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of bilateral flat feet, but there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology dating back to service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be established due to lack of medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional evidence or authorization, and VA will attempt to obtain any outstanding private records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during military service and concluding that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.