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

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's foot condition, including his pes planus, was aggravated by service and whether any other current foot diagnosis is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to missing records from the Moncrief Army Medical Center. Additionally, an SOC is needed on issues of increased ratings for knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and service connection for hammertoes, sleep apnea, toe fungus, sinusitis, rhinitis, hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, left forearm disability, right shoulder disability, and right forearm disability.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions would have warranted a discharge for disability at the time of his separation from service and whether there is a relationship between his now service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and the immature personality disorder diagnosed during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, bilateral wrist strains, and bilateral foot disabilities (including mild decreased longitudinal arches). Service connection was denied for chest pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if his back condition is secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disability, if his pes planus was aggravated by service, and if his skin conditions are related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran will need to undergo further medical examinations and receive a VA opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right foot disability, and residuals of facial injuries due to lack of in-service diagnosis and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for hallux valgus and pes planus with plantar fasciitis, as well as an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for pes planus with plantar fasciitis, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Veteran has also been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, foot, and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claims for service connection for mild DDD with disc protrusion L5-S1 and plantar fasciitis is granted. The Board has remanded both issues due to a need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ddd of the lumbar spine and a scar, secondary to plantar warts was denied. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted an initial 30 percent rating. His hallux valgus status post right bunionectomy with arthritis and scars status post bilateral bunionectomy were both denied. His plantar warts of the right foot claim is pending.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and requires a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left foot plantar fasciitis and plantar fasciitis with scar was denied. The highest schedular evaluation available is 30 percent, which has been assigned since May 26, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's testimony and submitted evidence. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for flat feet (pes planus) is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right eye injury, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, abnormal toenail growth, esophageal disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, chloracne of the arm and neck, heart disease (to include coronary artery disease), and hypertension. The claims are remanded due to incomplete service records and need further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as the evidence does not show any current disabilities related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, right and left shoulder disabilities, a left and right wrist disability, a right ankle disability, and a right foot disability. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a respiratory disorder (labored breathing), and osteopenia due to lack of diagnosed conditions. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus from November 4, 2008 to September 29, 2015 is denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to September 17, 2010.