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

The Veteran's disability rating for pes planus, bilateral, with osteoarthritis of the left first MTP and fifth interphalangeal joints was reduced from 50% to 10%, but this reduction is not proper. The Court has restored a 50% disability rating effective April 10, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that there is no current evidence of such a condition and noting that his lay statements regarding in-service occurrence of this injury are credible. The Board also found that the medical opinions supporting the claim were not based on factual premises supported by clinical data.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities have been reopened. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical evidence and determine the etiology of any current foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right foot disabilities, other than pes planus, have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep disorder, but has remanded his remaining service connection claims due to insufficient evidence. The decision also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right foot/ankle disability, erectile dysfunction, and dizziness due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The claim for increased ratings for back disability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not service-connected as they did not occur during or due to military service. However, the Veteran's right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected flat feet.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus but denied for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, right foot, left-hand, and right-hand disabilities due to his training as a boxer in service. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus needs to be remanded due to insufficient review of his service treatment records and need for a medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with right heel spur and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The claims for increased evaluations of the Veteran's ankle and foot disabilities, as well as her TDIU claim prior to July 28, 2013, are being remanded due to errors in rating decisions and need further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus (flat feet) as there was no evidence of aggravation during service and the condition was noted at entry but not worsened.

The appeal for service connection for internal abdominal disabilities due to Camp Lejeune water has been dismissed. The appeals for right-side pain disorder and bilateral pes planus are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and pes planus. The Veteran's claims were based on in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not show a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right foot disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the need for additional medical opinions and the retrieval of outstanding treatment records.

Service connection for a flatfeet disability is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. Service connection for neuropathy of lower extremities (secondary to flatfeet) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability. The issue of assigning initial ratings for the now service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability, as well as adjudicating the entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2016, is REMANDED.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, and her sleep disturbances are remanded for further evaluation. The initial rating for sacral strain with residual coccydynia is also remanded.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for a right hip disability is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a right plantaris tendon rupture due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claim. The claims for initial compensable ratings and rating in excess of 10 percent for various conditions are remanded as new examinations are needed.