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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated during service and if it is linked to his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's diplopia is granted as a symptom of her service-connected migraine headaches. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral flat feet as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran's claim was based on a theory of direct service connection, which failed due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his bilateral foot disorders and for a TDIU for the period prior to July 30, 2015 due to incomplete development of evidence. The case will be returned to the Board with further adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's joint pain is not attributable to service.,There is no current diagnosis of leg cramps related to military training.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension and left and right plantar fasciitis as the Veteran withdrew his claims. The appeal of PTSD with depression, not otherwise specified is remanded due to a request for an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions or examinations.,The Veteran's claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also being remanded as it may be related to his service-connected lumbar strain and knee disorder.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus is being remanded because there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded due to a lack of medical opinion on its etiology, as it may be related to his bladder disorder and sleep disorder.,The Veteran's claim for liver disorder is being remanded as it may be secondary to his bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction (ED) is being remanded because it may be caused by his hypertension or lumbar strain.,The Veteran's claim for kidney disorder is being remanded due to its potential relation to his hypertension and bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for bladder disorder is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was related to service or secondary to a bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder is being remanded because it may be related to his bladder disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were caused by or incurred during active duty.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability, lower back condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, spleen condition, and thyroid condition due to lack of evidence linking the disabilities to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left foot disability and its residuals. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if he currently has any left foot injury or residual issues, and to establish whether his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, with calluses on the toes, is currently rated at 50 percent since March 10, 2010. The Board found that his symptoms more closely approximated a pronounced flatfoot condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the appellant's failure to appear for a VA examination. The examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether his right foot disability is related to his period of ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is granted a 10 percent rating. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disability and granted it. The Veteran's right foot disability is also granted. However, the increased rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's GERD and left foot disability have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent. The right hand disability has not yet been resolved, but the Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected hammertoes and plantar fasciitis of the feet have been rated at 10% prior to April 22, 2017, and at 30% thereafter. The appeal is denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral pes planus with degenerative changes is dismissed as the issue has been subsumed by prior Board decisions.

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is granted a 10% rating, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains at a 30% rating.

The Veteran's right foot disability and lumbar spine disability were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from March 3, 2015 to May 26, 2016.