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

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his previously denied claims for left knee strain, plantar and retrocalcaneal spurs of the left foot with DJD, strained calf muscle/pulled left hamstring, and a left shoulder disorder have been dismissed.,Restoration of the 10 percent rating for old healed fracture, right long finger, effective from April 1, 2017, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative joint disease of both first metatarsal phalangeal joints and calcaneal spur right foot from December 21, 2010 to March 6, 2017 is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during this period. The claim of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his active duty service. The claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues include right ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disabilities (pes planus and plantar fasciitis), bilateral knee disabilities, and sciatica.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various foot and leg disabilities, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and an advisory opinion regarding radiation exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to incomplete examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence, including lay statements.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability has worsened since his last VA examination in 2013, and he should be afforded a new examination to determine the current nature and severity of this service-connected condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and higher ratings for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran regarding the earlier effective date issue.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left foot/ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions, lack of comprehensive VA examinations, and new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for a low back disability that is secondary to his foot disabilities. The evidence did not support finding any current foot or back disabilities related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability (claimed as arthritis). The May 2018 VA examination did not provide a nexus opinion.,New and material evidence having been received, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is reopened. However, the Board has determined that remand is necessary due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, with left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis has also been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis) has been granted.,The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable rating for his residual right wrist scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of findings of deep, painful, or unstable scars. The issue of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral pes planus is remanded as there are unclear symptoms related to both pes planus and plantar fasciitis fibromatosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, cataracts, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities and his service, as well as the relationship with his diabetes mellitus type II. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and request an addendum opinion from a VA physician.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, but remands it due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was aggravated during service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of service-connected duty status and the specific incidents that may have caused these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including neck disability, low back disability, right foot disability, residuals of a head laceration, headaches, depression, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU. The Veteran's STRs may be incomplete, and additional searches are needed. A VA examination is required for psychiatric disorders, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.