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

The Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities have been granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development on his other issues. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea but the Board finds that the existing medical opinion does not adequately address whether it was present in service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the veteran's current left knee and left foot disabilities are related to his service, including stress fractures sustained during basic training.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is granted with a rating of 10 percent.,Service connection for right hamstring muscle strain is granted with a rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for left clubfoot, left ankle condition, left hip condition, flat feet, and left knee disability. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not found to be aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but these issues are still pending as they have been remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The case for service connection of residuals from a traumatic brain injury is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance and/or automobile adaptive equipment is being remanded due to concerns about his ability to use his feet as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with IVDS, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, and DJD due to inadequate VA examinations. The increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis is also remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are not service-connected. The left wrist tenosynovitis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to assess her claimed conditions, as she did not receive notification of the scheduled VA examinations. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes, and bilateral pes planus due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims. The Board found insufficient evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or any other event, injury, or disease related to these conditions during service.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for acid reflux has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left pes planus, hysterectomy, and incontinence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims related to hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as for service connection for various disabilities. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity to obtain private medical records and participate in a VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that additional service treatment records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for left arm disorder, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus. The AOJ should obtain these records and then review the record and obtain any addendum opinions deemed necessary.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, low back disability, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered to be related to his active service.,The Board also denied a higher evaluation for the service-connected shell fragment wound of the left thigh and denied compensable evaluations for two service-connected scars.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, hammertoes, and DJD are granted service connection. Service connection for cervical spine disability is also granted, but the rating assigned is only 20 percent, which may not be sufficient given his symptoms. The issue of higher ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including calluses of the feet, was denied because no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim after previous denials.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 27, 2013. The Board has granted the TDIU effective from that date.