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

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative joint disease (DJD) as the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and pes planus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry, so the burden shifts to the government to provide clear and unmistakable evidence that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's pes planus was present since childhood and worsened during his active service, but the Board found that it did not aggravate beyond its natural progression. The Veteran's long delay in seeking treatment for his foot pain after service weakened his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney stones, and initial compensable evaluations for chronic hand tendonitis and residual scars of the right ring and little fingers were dismissed. The appeals for increased evaluations for various shoulder disabilities, hip conditions, foot issues, urinary stress incontinence, and acne rosacea are all pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for clarification on the correct disability rating and effective date, as well as for consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disability on a presumptive basis as secondary to herbicide agent exposure. The issues of service connection for dermatitis and a bilateral foot disability, specifically hallux valgus and pes planus, are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, as the most recent examination was conducted four years ago. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records from June 2014 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for dry mouth and bilateral CTS, as well as various rating claims. The Veteran's hallux valgus, pes planus, cervical spine conditions, and shoulder separation were all rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's surgery to remove a left foot plantar fibroma is not related to a service-connected disability, and thus they are not entitled to a temporary total evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, lumbosacral degenerative disease, and bilateral pes planus. The Board found that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran is service-connected for bilateral pes planus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and residuals of inguinal hernia. The combined evaluation is 50 percent. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's current left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities were denied service connection as they did not manifest to a compensable degree by the end of the applicable presumptive period or are not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various disabilities and mental health conditions. The Veteran's dental disability is not due to trauma or disease such as osteomyelitis, while his bilateral foot, varicose veins, gastrointestinal, and psychiatric conditions are being evaluated further.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has been remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her digestive symptoms. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating for hypothyroidism.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly concerning his alleged injuries and surgeries during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is granted as service connected. The Veteran's back disability is denied as not being related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are now rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and thoracolumbar strain remain pending, as does the claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.