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

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral ankle disability, and tinnitus. The effective date remains at the date of receipt of the claim (April 10, 2009).

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral foot disabilities to his active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral foot disorder (Plantar Fasciitis, Pes Planus) have been granted. The effective date is not specified as the claim was initially filed in October 2005.

The Board found that the appellant did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for improved pension due to his ACDUTRA service, and thus denied the appeal. The claim of reopening a previously denied left foot disability was also denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral pes planus were denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left hip degenerative joint disease was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pes planus, bilateral knee replacements, lumbar fusion, blurred vision and glaucoma (secondary to diabetes), and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities (also secondary to diabetes).

The Board found that there is no nexus between the current lumbar spine, left knee, lower leg skin, and foot disabilities and service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine scoliosis, status post lumbar spine fusion, with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The RO denied an increased rating for this condition as the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher evaluation under the amended criteria.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right foot disability and granted service connection on the merits. The Veteran's preexisting right foot disability is found to be aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current foot disabilities are related to his service, including running in steel-toed boots and jumping from a helicopter during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss of the right ear, a back disability, a right foot disability, or a left foot disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a left ring finger scar was granted. The other claims of service connection were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis warrants a separate initial evaluation of 10 percent for each foot. For PTSD, the Veteran received an initial 10 percent evaluation prior to July 30, 2013, and a 30 percent evaluation thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis were rated at a noncompensable level from August 1, 1996. The rating was increased to 10 percent effective October 24, 2001, and to 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, provide proper VCAA notice, and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations and a vocational expert review.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for an adjustment disorder with depression was granted, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder. The effective date of this grant is April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA examinations for his claimed cervical spine disorder and plantar fasciitis, as well as additional development of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, left elbow tenosynovitis/epicondylitis, muscle pain in the upper back, muscle pain in the neck, and pes planus have all been granted.,Service connection has also been established for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is denied because his Arizona AFOs are not the rigid type that would cause damage to clothing, and thus do not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance.