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

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus has been rated at 50% since November 2009, reflecting pronounced acquired flatfoot.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and an initial rating for chronic fatigue syndrome. Additional VA records are needed, and a psychiatric examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to heart disability, right leg disability, urinary condition, bilateral feet disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the loss of his VA claims file.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disability is remanded as there was no VA examination provided. The Veteran has reported symptoms of shin pain during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for urinary condition is remanded as he did not receive a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition, including whether it is related to exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral feet disability are remanded due to lack of VA examinations. The Veteran has reported symptoms such as tumors and numbness in his feet during service.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as he did not receive a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition, including whether it is related to personal assault.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and higher ratings due to incomplete medical opinions, and further development of evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any present bilateral foot disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's representative argues that his disability is related to service, but there is no current evidence linking it directly to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, left foot osteoarthritis, and right foot osteoarthritis. The issues of secondary service connection for these conditions are also granted.

A 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is granted from October 28, 2008 to prior to March 10, 2017.,A higher rating of more than 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is not warranted after March 10, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right foot disability, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities are not linked to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and skin cancer. The remaining issues have been remanded due to lack of evidence regarding radiation exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion, and needs further examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar warts was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, but the issue of TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability) is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of schizoaffective disorder, but reopened the claim for lumbar spine disability. The issue of competency to manage VA funds was also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for an opinion regarding the secondary nature of his other foot conditions to service-connected tinea pedis.

Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury is granted.,Initial 30 percent disability ratings are granted for residuals of status-post left and right tarsal tunnel release with plantar fasciitis and pes planus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The issues of service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, sleep apnea, and seizure disorder are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the above claims.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as service-connected. The left foot disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, right foot with calluses, is rated at 20 percent from December 19, 2016. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date was denied.