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

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral shin splints and sinusitis was granted. The claims for increased ratings for right ankle strain, migraines, major depressive disorder, low back strain, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus were also granted with specific rating assignments.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in service and is presumed to be related. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports his claim for service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left foot sprain, finding no evidence of chronic disability related to the in-service injury. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection for bilateral knee replacements.,The Veteran's current left foot conditions (calcaneal osteotomy, degenerative arthritis, and plantar heel spur) were not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left foot, right elbow, and cervical spine disabilities did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to August 24, 2011. From that date forward, the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, securing SSA disability benefits records, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of increased disability ratings for lumbar spondylosis and a right foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5276, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he had no pronounced symptomatology. The Veteran also had other conditions such as calcaneas bursitis (left foot), gout, and alcoholic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right and left knees each receiving a separate rating for subluxation. The initial ratings were granted effective September 23, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, asbestosis, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for enhanced/higher SMC based on his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed right and/or left ankle disability, plantar fasciitis, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and left heel spurs are due to in-service standing, marching, and other rigorous activities with little footwear support. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a left eye disability, finding that his pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and obtaining all available treatment records.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's coccydynia, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal for service connection for sterilization and an initial higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's current disabilities of the right foot, right knee, left leg, and low back are not considered to be related to his in-service shrapnel injuries. The Board finds that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was rated at 20% since November 23, 2012. The Board found that the current rating of 30% is appropriate given the severity and manifestations of his condition.