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

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his other claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and that it is not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder is not related to service and therefore denied his claim. The issues of left plantar fibromatosis, right plantar fasciitis, acquired deformity of left other specified site, contracture of left tendon sheath, osteochondral defect of left great toe MTP head, osteoarthritis of left ankle/foot, fracture of other bone of left foot, and unspecified osteochondropathy of left foot are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent, but the rating was restored.,The Veteran is found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and receives a TDIU.,SMC based on loss of use of one or both feet is denied as there is no anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand due to service-connected disabilities.,SMC based on loss of use of the left hand is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, status post hip replacement. The claims of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to back pain (originally claimed as neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus type II), bilateral ankle condition, bilateral foot condition, and hiatal hernia are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the cases of initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for left foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to March 28, 2018 and denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for right lower extremity disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for dental disability and right lower extremity disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and further examination being required.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted as service connected due to aggravation. The left knee osteoarthritis issue has been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for right foot hammer toes, service connection for left foot hammer toes, and service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis are being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and ankle disabilities, including as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing all theories of entitlement. The lumbar spine condition is also remanded for an adequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,An effective date of January 3, 2012 for the grant of TDIU is granted.,The claims for a right foot disability and bruxism are remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, is being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is secondary to her service-connected knee, low back, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and toe fungus, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disabilities present since service or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for hepatitis C, as well as his eligibility for adaptive equipment, housing, and home adaptations. The VA is instructed to obtain private medical records related to the Veteran's right foot amputation and provide a medical opinion regarding whether his disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and remanded the initial rating for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The decision on the initial rating is mixed, as some issues were granted (left knee scars) and others were not (left knee strain).