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

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires a new examination to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's left foot conditions, hallux rigidus, hammertoes, and her right knee and hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service treatment records and VA/SSA medical records. The claims include entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, right leg disability, bilateral foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD), respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's DJD of the bilateral feet with pes planus and plantar fasciitis are granted a rating of 30 percent, effective from when the appeal was filed. Separate ratings of 20 percent for right and left plantar fasciitis are also granted.

The application to reopen the claims for back disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied.,The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, including RSD, and for a left foot disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for plantar warts, bilateral hearing loss, and gout and bilateral arthritis. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and arm strain, lumbosacral strain, mood disorder, and bilateral flat feet as well as his claim of an earlier effective date. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur, which were resolved, are not related to service. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids, restoration of disability ratings for knee instability, reopening and evaluation of sleep apnea secondary to service-connected conditions, and evaluation of lumbar spine and knee disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD due to potential issues with the evidence provided.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent prior to April 2015 and 30 percent for the left foot as of April 2015. The Veteran's PTSD was initially denied but later granted a 30 percent rating effective March 2016. Service connection for levoscoliosis (back pain) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right plantar fasciitis, left knee instability/subluxation, and right knee instability/subluxation are denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for right plantar fasciitis, 10 percent for left knee instability/subluxation prior to December 12, 2017, and 30 percent for left knee limitation of motion since May 9, 2017.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right middle finger disability, left foot disability, and breathing condition. However, these claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and bilateral foot disabilities, as well as the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is required to obtain outstanding private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is granted as service connection was reopened.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia), bilateral flat feet, left hip disability, right hip condition, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, heart condition, and erectile dysfunction is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ear hearing loss, a respiratory condition (including bronchitis), sarcoidosis, and heart disease (including systolic murmur, grade 1 over aortic valve) due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, to include pes planus is reopened. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for various disability ratings and service connection claims, including those related to right ear hearing loss, a right ring-finger disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and acute retinal necrosis of the left eye.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from Fort Gordon where he was injured in October 1988.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip bursitis, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and other joint pain conditions are being remanded for further development. The issues of increased rating, compensable rating, service connection, and TDIU will be addressed after the additional examinations.