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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 19, 2013.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and left shoulder AC joint separation was granted. The claims for right shoulder disability, right hand condition, and plantar fasciitis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, bilateral foot disorder, cardiac arrhythmia/abnormal EKG, prostate disorder, and hemorrhoids. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied service connection for lung disorder and pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, right sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a 40% rating for his right sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, a 20% rating for his left carpal tunnel syndrome, and a 30% rating for his right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence related to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae was reopened, but not granted as new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, lung disability, headache disability, LADD, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, enlarged prostate condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn during the October 2017 Board hearing. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a respiratory condition (claimed as asthma) have been reopened due to new and material evidence.,The remaining issues, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral foot, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and migraines are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis. The right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination, as is the eye disability. The bilateral foot disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability was denied. The issue of an increased rating for his left knee disability is granted with a new rating of 10%. The issues of service connection for left shin/lower leg and right foot disabilities are remanded.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, migraine and cluster headaches, plantar fasciitis, right foot, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability is granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disability, respiratory disability, impotence, and prostate disability due to presumed in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran needs to provide records from his private physicians and undergo VA examinations to determine if these disabilities are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hammertoe of the left little toe, plantar fasciitis, keratosis and multiple calluses of the great toes and left fifth metatarsal, and a low back disability have been dismissed. The reduction of the rating for TMJ from 10% to 0% has been restored as of August 13, 2014. A single 70% rating for PTSD since the date of filing has been granted. A single 60% rating for a right arm disability throughout the period on appeal has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper respiratory condition (including sinusitis), pulmonary condition (including emphysema, COPD, and chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified), sleep apnea, heart condition, and gastrointestinal condition have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea is inadequate. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's periods of active service and to obtain any outstanding military personnel records. The Veteran also needs VA examinations for his claimed disabilities, including neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The VA treatment records from April 2013 to the present must be obtained. A VA examination will also be conducted to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and left foot disability was granted. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula. The issue of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of laceration right foot, intestinal metaplasia and gastritis, lumbar spinal stenosis, and plantar wart have been granted. The issue of service connection for plantar wart is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.