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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability was reopened and granted. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of an ankle injury due to foot surgery was denied, as there was no new and material evidence received since the April 2007 rating decision. Service connection for a bilateral ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any impairment or diagnoses of a headache disability or disabilities of the hip, knees, legs, ankles, feet, a deviated septum, or a heart disability related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with left toe ganglion cyst is granted a 30 percent rating from September 1, 2012 to July 7, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis due to new evidence received from VA. The claim will be reviewed by the RO and a Supplemental Statement of the Case will be issued if necessary.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for reopening the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), as well as for higher ratings for a painful right shoulder scar and a right shoulder disability. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in 2013 was denied because the prescribed medication (Clobetasol ointment) did not cause damage to his clothing, and there is no provision for damage resulting from the disability itself.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include vertigo/dizziness/poor balance, residuals of cold injury of the hands, residuals of cold injury of the feet, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left calf disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports.,The Veteran was provided with a new VA examination on these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral foot disability and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity as they were not found to be due to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, and major depressive disorder. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability is denied. The Board found no current evidence of a compensable eye disability and the medical opinion was not prejudicial to the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and right ankle disabilities, finding no current disability other than a bunion. The Board concluded that any pain or numbness experienced by the Veteran was related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis has been denied.,Claims for effective dates prior to October 5, 1990 have also been denied for service connection for left ankle strain, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of adequate current evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent from April 30, 2009 for service-connected bilateral foot disability and ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to April 30, 2009 for each foot disability. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension was denied. His right foot disability, rated as 30 percent disabling under DC 5276 and now rated at 40 percent under DC 5284, is granted. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection and rating for left and right foot disabilities due to conflicting medical records, lack of clear diagnosis, and need for updated examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus due to conflicting evidence and incomplete examination reports. The case is being returned to the VA examiner for further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for his bilateral flat feet was denied by the RO, and he appealed. The Board previously granted service connection for the condition in March 2014 but found that VA regulations do not allow for a compensable evaluation of congenital flat feet. A new medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's flat feet should be considered a disease or defect.