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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee, hip, and ankle disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's bunions are granted as secondary to their service-connected pes planus.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the claims for a respiratory condition, lumbar spine disability, left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral pes planus, left hip disability (secondary to service-connected disability), right knee disability (secondary to service-connected disability), and sleep apnea. These issues will be addressed in further proceedings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, increased ratings for bilateral foot gout and hypertension due to conflicting VA examination opinions and new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and sinusitis have been rated, but the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted.,Service connection for a headache disorder unrelated to service-connected sinusitis has been remanded as no opinion was provided regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are separate from his sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should receive new VA examinations and opinions for his flat feet and skin disorder claims because the February 2014 VA examiner's opinions are based upon inaccurate factual premises. The remanded matters include obtaining updated VA treatment records, a letter from the Veteran's treating podiatrist, and an opinion regarding any current skin disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to May 2, 2012 and 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran’s mitral valve stenosis and borderline left ventricular hypertrophy were initially rated as 10 percent disabling before August 8, 2007 and 30 percent thereafter.,The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus warranted a 30 percent rating prior to May 2, 2012 and a 50 percent rating beginning May 2, 2012. The mitral valve stenosis and borderline left ventricular hypertrophy were rated at 10 percent before August 8, 2007 and 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, herpes, and hysterectomy due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and incomplete records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and complete any necessary development.

The Board denied service connection for a right great toe disability and bilateral plantar calcaneal spurs, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any service-connected condition.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

Service connection is granted for left foot pes planus, but service connection and rating are denied for ear infections, cold injury residuals of the bilateral hands, feet, and ears, headaches, and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome. An effective date prior to February 1, 2016, for TBI residuals is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a DBQ for Aid and Attendance. The SMC claim will be delayed until the service connection claims are resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis and plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding post-service treatment records and continuous symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disability (including major depressive disorder) was granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for these conditions is August 31, 2012.,An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the decisions in question are final and no CUE was found.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated at 30 percent from March 22, 2011 to April 17, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for tendonitis, bilateral knees, arthralgia, bilateral ankles, and bilateral pes planus as there was no evidence showing these conditions were related to service.

New evidence has been submitted, and the claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus was aggravated during service and reversed the April 2000 rating decision denying service connection.