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

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of her disabilities, including myofascial pain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee internal derangement, bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux limitus, and abdominal scars.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee, foot, hand disabilities and COPD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is conceded.

The Board has remanded the issues of an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral foot disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression due to lack of representation and need for additional development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective June 6, 2013. The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis and internal derangement, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appellant is to be afforded appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left foot disability and lumbosacral spondylosis due to incomplete STRs and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various wrist, ankle, neck, back, shoulder, knee, and toe conditions as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examiners' opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and pes planus are inadequate, as they did not address potential service connection based on noise exposure or other in-service factors. The claims for these conditions are therefore remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during active duty.,Service connection was also denied for back disability and bilateral knee disability, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition. Headache disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a psychiatric disability (posttraumatic stress disorder), which was granted in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and a neck condition were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Entitlement to service connection for a seizure disorder and stroke associated with seizure was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar keratomas is granted, but the case is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to orthopedic shoes and insoles was denied because the VA form did not list any service-connected skin condition that caused damage to his outer garments. The Veteran is encouraged to file a new claim if he wants benefits related to medications used for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions, particularly asthma, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA will also verify the alleged in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for plantar fasciitis of the left and right feet, as well as hammer toe deformity of both feet, were denied.,A separate 10 percent rating was granted for hammer toe deformity affecting all toes of each foot effective January 22, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) due to new evidence received after the August 2016 SSOC. The issues include increased ratings for left and right foot disabilities, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances were denied as there was no evidence that any of his claimed appliances or medications caused wear and tear to his clothing in the 2012 calendar year.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, the maximum allowed by law. The Board found that the established schedular criteria adequately describe his symptoms and there was no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization to warrant an extra-schedular rating.

The Veteran's service connection and increased rating issues are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other issues.