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

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the appeal was dismissed due to failure to timely file a notice of disagreement regarding an effective date issue.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's pes planus and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his back and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot pes planus did not begin during active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to military service.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, disfiguring scar on the left upper lip area, and tender scar on the left upper lip area, is denied as it does not exceed 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the medical records from Fort Leonard Wood submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of SMC at the rate equal to subsection (m) based on the loss of use of both legs due to service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities with additional disability (service-connected bronchial asthma) independently ratable as 100 percent disabling from August 20, 2009. The Veteran's claims for higher levels of SMC under 38 C.F.R. � 3.350(f)(3) and 38 U.S.C.A. � 1114(o) have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA spine examination. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability are on appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing foot disability and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus and metatarsalgia did not begin in service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis has been rated as 50 percent disabling, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The initial noncompensable disability ratings for left hamstring strain and right ankle sprain have also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability have been granted. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for other conditions are denied.,No effective date has been assigned as the evidence is not sufficient to establish when these disabilities began.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for a bilateral foot disorder, including plantar fasciitis. The additional evidence received since the March 2010 decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims of entitlement to service connection for plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and assigned an initial disability rating of 30 percent effective April 26, 2005. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to the presence of clear and unmistakable error in a prior decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pneumonia, depression, diabetes mellitus, a bilateral foot disability, and skin disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite during his active duty. The Board found no presumptive service connection based on mustard gas exposure.

The Veteran's death was attributed to polypharmacy toxicity (drugs, alcohol), and the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if any of his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death or if he had a psychiatric disability related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim of a bilateral foot disability was reopened, but the service connection claim remains denied.

The Veteran's fatty liver disease and bilateral pes planus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's current left foot plantar fasciitis was incurred during active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability and finds that it was aggravated by active service. The Veteran is therefore entitled to service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current foot disorder is related to his military service. The examiner must consider all of the Veteran's contentions, including that in-service activities led to his current problems.