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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right foot disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of sleep apnea. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen his claim for bilateral pes planus and granted service connection for this condition as well as for bilateral hallux valgus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of MDD due to insufficient evidence. The claims for bilateral peroneus brevis, chronic headaches/migraines, right knee arthritis, left shoulder bursitis/tendonitis, and spinal arthritis and degenerative disc are also remanded.

The Veteran's left foot disability is granted a rating of 30 percent prior to September 20, 2010. The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his left ankle strain and right ankle strain are related to service-connected disabilities. His claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of his knees have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying the Veteran's service stressors. The claims of service connection for various conditions are also being considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, low back disability, right foot and leg disabilities, PTSD, and sinusitis with headaches. The appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including of the bilateral feet, knees, hips, lumbar spine, and chronic joint pain, as well as peripheral neuropathy. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for lumbar strain prior to October 8, 2015 and from October 8, 2015 for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The initial staged ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and GERD were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's flat feet pre-existed service or were aggravated by ACDUTRA. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these questions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's neck, low back, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities are being reviewed again as new evidence suggests a possible link to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that there were no prior claims or unadjudicated issues related to these conditions. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD on June 23, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issue of bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded cases involving lumbar spine, left foot, right foot, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of a nexus between the condition and service. Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its onset in or relation to service.

The Veteran's right foot and heel plantar fasciitis were denied a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 9, 2011. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was also denied a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 9, 2016.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis of the feet have been granted. The case has been remanded to determine if service connection is warranted for a right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete vocational rehabilitation folders. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations for her lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or disease related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for a higher rating for tinnitus, service connection for right foot gout, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are all denied.,Service connection for right foot gout is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right foot gout.,Service connection for a left shoulder disorder is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during active service or is related to an in-service disease or injury.,Service connection for a right elbow disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are all denied due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The claims for bilateral shoulder tendinopathy, left foot condition (plantar fasciitis and bursitis), and right foot condition (navicular bone deformity, plantar fasciitis, and bursitis) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a bilateral foot disability due to new evidence received after the January 1974 rating decision. The case will be reconsidered without regard to 'new and material' provisions for reopening of claims.