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

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A separate 10% rating for left knee instability is granted. The Veteran's right foot disability is also denied, as symptoms do not warrant a higher than 20% rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus due to the Veteran's pre-existing condition that existed prior to service. The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded as there may have been a material change in his hearing since the last examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the feet, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were denied.,Service connection claims for these conditions were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period beginning April 17, 2010 to September 7, 2011. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and degenerative joint disease of the feet, finding that the condition was aggravated by service. Service connection is denied for a heart disorder other than hypertensive heart disease and earlier effective dates are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee and lumbar disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which she contends were aggravated by her active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus due to an increase in severity during active military service.

The appeal for service connection for a heart condition due to poor circulation is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for bilateral foot disability, skin disability, left groin injury, left upper extremity nerve disability, and right upper extremity nerve disability is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and denied both his claim for service connection for a left ankle disability and his claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus. The Board found that new evidence was submitted sufficient to reopen the claims, but did not find any causal relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral foot disorders (pes planus with hallux valgus), and skin disorder due to insufficient examination reports and lack of clarity in the opinions provided.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, rectal polyp, and major depressive disorder. Additional evidence is needed, including VA and private treatment records, and a new examination may be required.

The Board has granted service connection for a right forearm disability and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and have continued since.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a dental disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, and migraine headaches. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support an in-service event or disease related to any of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service or was aggravated by service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was granted. The claims for service connection for both a bilateral foot disability and a bilateral hearing loss disability were denied.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was implicitly denied in the July 2011 rating decision. The Board granted an effective date of May 16, 2013, for this benefit. The right knee and pes planus issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the issue of service connection for hematuria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to potential unverified periods of service in the National Guard.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected bilateral foot disabilities, and adjudicating her TDIU claim.