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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. The remaining issues of service connection for left hip, left foot, and right foot disabilities are remanded due to lack of objective clinical tests supporting the Veteran's claims. Additionally, the cervical spine, bilateral knee, and cervical radiculopathy disabilities require new VA examinations.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA examination and clarification of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's foot disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Veteran is required to provide verification of these dates and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and plantar fasciitis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims of service connection for TMJ disorder and gout, as well as his claim for service connection for pes planus, have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran’s pes planus was aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and evaluations for the Veteran's conditions, including a back condition, bilateral shin splints, and post-operative residuals of bunionectomies. The remand requests additional examinations and opinions regarding these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthrosis in the feet and bilateral pes planus have been granted. The adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been increased to a 70 percent rating after February 3, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for alopecia, rectal disability (including hemorrhoids and polyps), skin disorder, foot disability, upper left extremity radiculopathy, sleep disorder, and bilateral knee disability as there was no evidence or argument linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis with talipes valgus, left ankle sprain of the tibiofibular ligament, right ankle sprain of the tibiofibular ligament, hallux valgus of the left foot, and hallux valgus of the right foot have all been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, effective March 1, 2012.,Service connection for migraines has been granted with a rating of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, right knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral pes planus disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus has been reopened.,Effective dates prior to May 15, 2012 have not been granted for the awards of service connection for residuals of a contusion of the left arm with nerve damage and scar residual of the left arm.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as allergic rhinitis, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims. The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, headache disability, hypertension, and a left ankle disorder (secondary to right ankle injury).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus with calluses, osteotomies, and hallux rigidus since September 1, 2000 is denied as the condition does not meet criteria for a schedular rating higher than 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted with a 10 percent rating per foot, effective from the date of the initial grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, lumbar degenerative disc disease/arthritis, major depression, lumbar radiculopathy, plantar fasciitis (left foot), and right shoulder osteoarthritis. As a result, the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and ankle disabilities have resulted in total occupational impairment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 70% for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The remaining issues of right foot plantar fasciitis, pes cavus, and hallux valgus are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for BPP prior to February 12, 2010 was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a compensable initial rating. For the period from February 12, 2010 to September 11, 2013 and after May 2, 2016, a 30 percent rating was granted for BPP. The claim for an increased rating for right lower extremity sciatica with weakness of the right calf muscle group XI prior to May 19, 2014 was denied.