Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus with right foot Morton’s neuroma and metatarsalgia was denied as the earliest possible effective date is December 28, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right flat foot, left flat foot, right hip osteoarthritis with femoral acetabular impingement, and left hip osteoarthritis with femoral acetabular impingement. The diagnoses are supported by the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating for left knee disability, service connection for glaucoma and prostate disorder, special monthly compensation (SMC), and service connection for lumbar spine disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate disorder has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for glaucoma has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted, but the claim remains pending as it was previously denied in April 2000 and reopened based on new evidence. The claim is still denied due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left foot disability, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability have been remanded as further development is needed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for headache disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded as further development is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right foot disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record, including lack of available service treatment records. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete examinations and missing records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus), and bilateral knee disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus).

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims for PTSD, hypertension, and high blood sugar was granted. The petitions for service connection of left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, bilateral pes planus, and left knee disorder were remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral pes planus, left foot hallux valgus, left lower extremity shin splints, PTSD, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood due to new and material evidence.,Service connection is remanded for these conditions as further development may be required.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the neck, bilateral foot, back, or psychiatric (PTSD) conditions. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and for further development, including obtaining his separation medical history and examination report.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for back strain was reopened and granted. Bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, leading to a grant of service connection. The Veteran's left ankle os calcis with deformity is now rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2013.,The Veteran's back strain claim was reopened and granted due to new evidence showing current degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service during parachute jumping. The left ankle os calcis with deformity is now rated at 20 percent from October 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as right and left foot disabilities due to lack of a medical opinion addressing the onset of symptoms in service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right foot condition. The issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, flatfoot, hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, and degenerative arthritis, has been granted. However, the claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains denied. The claims of increased ratings for impingement syndrome and bursitis of the left shoulder, as well as degenerative joint disease of the right elbow, are pending and require further examination to determine appropriate evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a hand fracture, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and cervical spine disability due to lack of consideration of service treatment records and need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus, gynecomastia, and left little finger disability have been granted service connection. The RO increased the rating for bilateral pes planus to 10 percent in July 2018. However, his right knee strain, left knee strain, and residuals of MRSA infection remain at noncompensable ratings. These issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.