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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for various disabilities, but the AOJ must first determine her eligibility to substitute as claimant and then consider the claims based on evidence of record at the time of his death.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right middle finger injury was denied. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower plantar callosities are rated at 10 percent each, effective May 11, 2017. The Board denied a higher rating as the callosities do not cause more than moderate foot impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his condition. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the bilateral foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral plantar fasciitis is at least as likely as not related to her active duty service, specifically her in-service diagnosis and treatment for bilateral plantar fasciitis. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, pes planus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and obstructive sleep apnea. The issues of bilateral pes planus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left foot disability is being remanded for the retrieval of updated VA treatment records and any outstanding private treatment records from Dr. Fishman.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back and bilateral foot conditions are not service-connected due to inadequate medical evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected foot disability. The issues of service connection for eye disorder, right and left shoulder disabilities, and low back disability were not addressed due to the pending TDIU claim.

Service connection for hypertension and bilateral pes planus is granted. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted with a 10% initial rating effective from February 17, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his in-service injury and are more likely due to overuse of the feet, improper shoe sizing, and an increased BMI.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot disability and depression, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as her current diagnoses are related to her in-service diagnoses.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions such as plantar fasciitis, wrist pain, bilateral hearing loss, paresthesias of the left fingers, a psychiatric disorder (to include depression), hand pain, and knee pain. The Veteran is not eligible for compensation benefits for any disabilities that began in or are etiologically related to his second period of active service from December 2001 through August 2007.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, as well as for entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease are all granted as service connected.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder and opioid pain medications. The claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, bilateral ocular disability, respiratory disability, hypogonadism with erectile dysfunction, skin condition, recurrent sprains of the left ankle, recurrent sprains of the right ankle, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post left foot tendon release with benign tumor of the plantar surface with plantar fasciitis, and status post right foot tendon release with benign tumor of the plantar surface with plantar fasciitis are all denied. The Veteran is granted a 50 percent rating for tension-migraine headaches.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection, including for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the left glenohumeral joint, degenerative arthritis of the left acromioclavicular joint, neck disability, and vision disability.