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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, neck, back, ankle, and foot conditions, made it impossible for him to engage in substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board granted a TDIU on an accrued basis.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is granted a rating of 40 percent, and the other issues are either denied or remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incorrect legal standard used by the VA examiner and the need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting pes planus was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and left foot pes planus have been granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for the left foot pes planus has also been resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for right hand disability was denied. The claims for service connection of bilateral flat feet/pes planus, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final decisions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis and right metatarsalgia and hallux valgus, as well as an unspecified anxiety disorder, need to be remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities (plantar fasciitis and foot sprain) and IBS are granted. The GI disability other than IBS, but to include GERD is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, all of which the Veteran claimed were due to in-service herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during his active duty.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and arthritis of the feet, finding that there was no evidence of worsening during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's motion for revision of a June 25, 2014 decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) as it did not meet the pleading requirements.

The Veteran's bilateral recurrent tinnitus is granted service connection. The appeals for CAD, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetes are dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted with a rating of 30 percent prior to July 1, 2015.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet (claimed as ankle condition) has been reopened and granted. The claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and sarcoidosis have all been denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and bilateral foot disabilities due to potential aggravation by other service-connected conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities are being reviewed again as they may be aggravated by his pre-existing knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and GERD have been granted ratings, with the rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis being 50% prior to November 17, 2017. The rating for GERD remains at 30%. No new evidence was provided in this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder was denied. The appeals for service connection for left ankle condition and bilateral foot disability, as well as the TDIU claim prior to June 29, 2017, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of his petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disability was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claims for hepatitis, depression, PTSD, left foot disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and right leg disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, hearing loss, and sleep problems due to lack of a medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, low back disability, and right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the other issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral foot disability has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are now pending before the Board.,The VA is required to obtain additional medical records, including treatment from the Social Security Administration and VA health care facilities.