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

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression, but his appeal is dismissed as he did not file a timely NOD.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a psychiatric disorder due to the appellant's bilateral foot condition. The appeal was remanded for further development.,Service connection for the bilateral foot disability is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis but remanded the psychiatric claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of 13 issues, including service connection claims for various conditions and disability ratings. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for left foot plantar fasciitis was denied, as the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to June 14, 2016.,The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to June 14, 2016, for her 30 percent disability rating for left foot plantar fasciitis was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition (to include flat feet and hammertoes) as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The Board reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a bilateral leg condition, but denied the underlying merits of the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent since August 17, 2015.,Service connection for IBS is granted as the condition is presumptively related to service in the Gulf War theater.,Service connection for bilateral chronic plantar fasciitis is granted based on a current diagnosis and evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches remains pending due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied as new and material evidence was not received within one year of the final denial. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his unspecified depressive disorder associated with bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now receiving a 30% disability rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for pes planus, as the additional clinical records are cumulative of previous evidence.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The claim for bilateral pes planus (flat feet) was reopened and denied due to lack of a relationship with the left foot disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder, finding that his current conditions are not directly related to military service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the left foot, right foot, and left ankle disabilities during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has led to the grant of service connection for related conditions such as hammertoes, hallux valgus, and plantar keratosis. Service connection was denied for palmar keratosis and neurovascular disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted, with a noninitial disability rating of 20 percent for his service-connected left ankle sprain status post reconstruction with arthritis. The issue of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis as secondary to the service-connected left ankle condition is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, eye disorder (presumably vision impairment), ear disorder (hearing loss and possibly other auditory issues), respiratory disorder, and digestive disorder. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for reopening these claims.