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

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left wrist strain and service connection for bilateral foot disability, including residuals of frost bite, are remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary steps have been taken.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, GERD, left knee patellar chondromalacia, and right knee patellar chondromalacia were remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the length of time since his last examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is granted, while claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), heart disorder, osteopenia, cervical spine (neck) disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are denied. The Veteran's service connection claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis and hammer toes of the left and right feet were evaluated, but her claims for increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was not granted any higher disability ratings.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and muscle spasms is granted.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the reopening of the claim. However, the matter must be remanded as there are outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's current pes planus is related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and exercised induced hyperventilation (including asthma).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain outstanding SSA records related to the appellant's claims.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine were not related to his active service.,Right and left foot pes planus preexisted service and did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right foot disability, and back disability have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for PTSD with MDD and GAD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right foot disability, other than metatarsalgia and pes planus, is related to his service-connected left knee and right ankle disabilities. However, due to lack of a VA examiner opinion on this issue, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and has remanded several other issues related to service connection. The appeal is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for evaluation of service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis, lumbar strain, left ankle surgery residuals, and left hip degenerative changes due to a lack of recent VA compensation examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus should be remanded to allow for a VA examination and an opinion regarding whether his pre-existing condition was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left foot disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of severe service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and a need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability (including plantar fasciitis) and obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a TBI, finding no increase in severity of pre-existing pes planus during service and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's right foot disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, as the previous examination was inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as defined by VA regulations. The claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.