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

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left-hand injury manifested by neuropathy and bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 11, 2013, and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board found no evidence of a severe disability warranting higher ratings.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there was insufficient evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left heel/foot disability, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The evidence submitted since the last denial was found to be cumulative and not new or material.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he failed to provide the necessary employment information and did not report for scheduled VA examinations, leading to his abandonment of the claim.

The Board has dismissed the claims for specially adapted housing and service connection for complex regional pain syndrome, as these benefits were already granted. The left foot disability claim is denied due to exceeding the amputation level rating. The low back and hip disabilities are remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical records and securing an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and granted an initial 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus. The remaining issues of service connection for residuals of head injury/TBI, hallux valgus of the right foot, hallux valgus of the left foot, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder scar was initially denied a compensable rating prior to August 2, 2017. A 10 percent rating is granted beginning on that date.,Service connection for heart disorder and bilateral wrist disorders are remanded due to outstanding records.,Right shoulder disability and cervical spine disability ratings are remanded as the Veteran's symptoms have worsened since his last examination in 2014.,Lumbar spine disability rating is remanded as the Veteran's range of motion has worsened since his last VA examination in 2014.,Bilateral foot disabilities and PFB of the face and upper neck are remanded due to outstanding treatment records. Migraine headaches are also remanded for a new examination.,,,

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for flat feet and foot calluses due to insufficient evidence in the record, including lack of weight-bearing X-rays and consideration of all relevant diagnoses. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding records and provide a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's foot conditions are part of his service-connected lower extremity dysesthesias, and for further examination to clarify which conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's dizziness, headaches, and pes planus of the left foot have been granted service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to determine its etiology.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination, as well as the need for an opinion regarding whether his peripheral neuropathy of the feet is related to his bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development and examination: back disability, bilateral foot disability, diabetes, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran asserts that his disabilities are related to service, particularly exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of various conditions, including onychomycosis, sleep disorder, right thumb disability, psychiatric disability (likely posttraumatic stress disorder), pes planus, chest pain, and back disability. The VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral metatarsalgia and pes planus with plantar fasciitis, as well as post-operative hallux valgus of the left foot with degenerative disease. The VA will need to obtain any outstanding treatment records from September 2015 onwards and schedule new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral metatarsalgia and pes planus with plantar fasciitis, as well as post-operative hallux valgus of the left foot with degenerative disease. The VA will need to obtain any outstanding treatment records from September 2015 onwards and schedule new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied. The appeal regarding the June 1997 rating decision concerning TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective April 8, 2014. Service connection for other conditions has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and spine disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions regarding parachute jumps in service. The claims will be reconsidered on their merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The low back disability claim will be examined again, and a left knee disability claim will be contingent on the outcome of the left foot disability claim.