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

The Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral onychomycosis, eye disorder, left ankle disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus have all been denied. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle sprain. However, the Board denied the claim for service connection for pes planus, concluding that there is no evidence linking the condition to service or the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and bilateral pes planus. The Board finds that no claim was filed or adjudicated prior to April 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claims were denied in September 1994 and January 2009. No new and material evidence was submitted within one year of these decisions. The AOJ granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously-denied claims for bilateral pes planus and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee on April 21, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted with an effective date of December 15, 1988. The appeal regarding the initial rating for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition had its onset during active duty or is related to an incident of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral foot disabilities due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. However, the Board has determined that sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and right knee disability were not incurred in service.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right foot disability. The claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left foot disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for costochondritis, right hip disorder, and right knee disorder were denied. The claim for aggravation of pre-existing pes planus was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of hypertension, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder strain, right lateral epicondylitis, right ankle strain, upper airway resistance syndrome, and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of stab wound in left lower leg with tibiotalar degenerative changes was denied as the condition has not been manifested by marked ankle disability or nonunion of the tibia and fibula. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, sleep disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and left foot plantar fasciitis due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete evaluations.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from August 17, 2010 forward due to her service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered her unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was reduced from 30 percent to a single combined 30 percent, and then increased back to 50 percent effective April 1, 2015. The Board found that the correct diagnostic code (DC 5276) should have been used instead of DC 5284.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, bilateral foot, and lower back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted a 50 percent rating, and other conditions are either denied or remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his address.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for foot, neck, back disabilities, and a TDIU. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected right wrist splint is granted, as the evidence shows that the metal in the splint wears out his shirts and pants.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left foot conditions due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion regarding whether any bilateral foot conditions are related to active service.