Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion and attempting to obtain all relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot, ankle and knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for micromastia residuals, left foot plantar fasciitis, and shin splints of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's low back strain with bulging disc is rated 20 percent disabling from March 22, 2011 to the present. Her initial rating for right knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his thoracolumbar spine strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right foot arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 19, 2015.

The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, and thus denied reopening of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus and nerve entrapment with arch pain, bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's other foot conditions are not addressed as they may be related to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease of the left first metatarsal joint, has not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent since May 4, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, night sweat disorder, and sleep disorder. The ratings for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and for any relevant ongoing VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, prostate disability, and left foot disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support staged ratings or a rating in excess of what was assigned.

The Veteran's right foot plantar wart status post excision has not resulted in a deep, painful, or unstable scar and has not resulted in a superficial and nonlinear scar measuring 144 square inches or greater. The callouses of the right foot have caused only moderate symptoms prior to March 16, 2017, but moderately severe symptoms beginning on June 5, 2017.,The Veteran's callouses of the left foot did not cause moderate symptoms at any point during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, foot disability other than flat feet, or a current foot disability other than flat feet. Service connection was not granted for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, vision loss, laxity of the right knee, or recurrent low back pain with history of muscle strain.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI, bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, and right hip disability are all granted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, right shoulder disability, OSA, and alcohol dependence as due to PTSD. Service connection was denied for pes planus, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and back disability (scoliosis).

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his exposure to noise trauma during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for a back disability, right foot disability, and left leg numbness/radiating pain as secondary to a back disability are remanded due to incomplete records and need further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, and as such, service connection is granted. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on his claim for service connection for a left foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation prior to September 3, 2008 was granted. From September 3, 2008 to March 27, 2016, the Veteran received a 30 percent rating. Effective March 28, 2016, he is entitled to a 50 percent evaluation for his bilateral pes planus with bone spurs.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee instability, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis. The effective dates are set at October 18, 2011.