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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral foot disability, residuals of a head injury, neck disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests clarification on whether he wishes to continue his appeals. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right quadriceps disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition in service or post-service. The VA examiners found no medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record after a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The VA will need to obtain any additional VA treatment records and consider all submitted evidence in an appropriate SSOC.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur syndrome is rated at 30 percent prior to January 15, 2016. Since then, the maximum rating of 50 percent has been assigned.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the reopening of claims for pes planus, low back disability, peptic ulcer disease, sleep apnea, and ischemic heart disease. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis was reopened, and he is now rated at 20% for his lumbar spine disability. The effective date of the rating increase remains to be determined.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and a right foot disability due to lack of proper notification regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left foot disability due to new and material evidence. However, both the left and right foot disabilities are still being remanded as the April 2015 VA examination is inadequate.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, an eye condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are denied. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's preexisting bilateral foot disability and whether its increase in severity was clearly and unmistakably due to the natural progress of the disease.

The Veteran's flat feet are granted an increased rating to 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, temporomandibular joint disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot condition, are found to be severe enough to prevent the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for pes planus, and the Veteran should be afforded one.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder to include pes planus and hallux valgus due to inadequate examination reports, and requests for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his knee brace and shoe insert was denied because the VA determined that these items do not tend to wear or tear clothing, as required by the regulations.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy pending before the Board due to the full grant of benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board found no evidence to support a finding that his back or left foot disabilities are related to military service. The Veteran's migraines were rated at 50% since June 2, 2015.

The Veteran's pes planus with fasciitis and right total knee replacement with scar are rated at 30% and 60%, respectively. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, granting entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.