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

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various knee and foot disabilities, as well as a right arm disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the condition is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran must be scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left foot disability and brain hemorrhage due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and low back disability, but the right foot condition remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the July 2019 VA examination is inadequate and remands for a new examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including separate ratings if warranted. The examiner must also determine whether there are any separate symptomatology for plantar fasciitis and evaluate the presence of Morton’s neuroma or hallux rigidus.

The appeal for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (pneumonia) is denied. The Veteran's current breathing problems are not related to his service.

The Veteran's left ankle residuals, including ligament capsule strain post fracture, were granted a 30 percent disability rating from October 25, 2016. The condition is rated under the criteria for foot injuries with severe residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, low back, and gastrointestinal conditions. The issues are related to whether these disabilities are related to service or other in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection was established for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals on the merits have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a higher rating claim. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, pes planus, shin splints, left elbow disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all under review.

The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and cervical spine disability are granted. The right hip and left foot disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of his feet, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of one or both feet.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome associated with bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, finding no new and relevant evidence after the June 2015 denial.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are now rated at 20 percent each, effective January 22, 2018.,An earlier effective date of January 22, 2018, is granted for a 50% rating for bilateral pes planus.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 22, 2018, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to outstanding records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation of his pre-existing pes planus during service and that any current foot disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus should be remanded due to new evidence being added to the record.