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

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right arm disability and service connection for bilateral pes planus due to conflicting evidence regarding aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic joint pain and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which may be related to his military service or exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia.

The Board denied service connection for plantar fasciitis, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's plantar fasciitis is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions. His hypertension began after separation from service and is not linked to his service-connected disabilities. His allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Board found that there was no evidence of leg length inequality causing bilateral plantar fasciitis, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The Veteran's hypertension was determined to be multifactorial with obesity being a significant factor. Service connection for his allergic rhinitis was also denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The Veteran was also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran’s back condition, claimed as stiff neck, is not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity are not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus and plantar fascitis had their onset in service and are considered secondary to Raynaud’s syndrome.,The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus and plantar fascitis had their onset in service and are considered secondary to Raynaud’s syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to inadequate development, including a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected callused skin/verruca of both feet were denied. The right foot condition is currently rated at 10 percent, and the left foot condition was previously rated as recurrent plantar warts (now called callused skin/verruca) and is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot condition and low back condition due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her current foot conditions, which she believes are related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent prior to March 9, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms were moderate and granted a rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted a 10% rating. The left eye corneal scar, as a residual of a left eye corneal laceration, and the left ear hearing loss are denied compensable ratings. Right ear hearing loss is denied service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, pes planus, hypertension, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and his back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his foot disorders, as well as his TDIU claim due to incomplete development. The RO is instructed to verify any active service by the Veteran between 1979 and 1981 through DPRIS or another similar federal records repository and obtain any outstanding STRs from that period of service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for a separate rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, service connection for a left shoulder disorder, and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded due to new evidence added since the April 2016 SOC.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and hearing loss disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on the basis that they were aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis and shin splints of the left lower extremity may be related to their service-connected right knee disabilities, but more evidence is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's left foot disorder and bipolar disorder are remanded for further examination and medical opinions to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, and onychomycosis, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise linked to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient medical evidence of record.