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

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a congenital defect of pes planus and the Veteran's hallux valgus, hammertoes, and metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative disease are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from July 2010 to the present and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee disabilities, or lumbar fusion disability. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as there is insufficient clinical evidence to support this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is found to be attributable to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's foot, ear, and back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is rated at 50 percent since December 10, 2010. The Board has also granted service connection for his back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis has been rated at 10 percent since February 19, 2009. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus, right foot, and plantar calcaneal spurring, right foot, are secondary to his pre-existing pes planus. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to noise exposure during active duty. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeals were withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and low back disability. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including healed fractures of the bilateral tibia and fibula, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, right knee instability, and plantar fasciitis, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment as of July 23, 2011. The Board grants a TDIU starting from that date.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hammer toes, bilaterally due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination and the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his combined rating is less than the required 70% under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and unverified service information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, as well as other conditions, have been considered. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a left elbow injury is granted, with an effective date to be determined based on further review. Service connection for varicose veins was denied previously. Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental issues has also been addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral degenerative arthritis with bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5276. The right knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation prior to February 20, 2014 is also rated at 30 percent.