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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and bilateral foot condition due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and ratings for certain disabilities. The specific issues include dental disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections, sleep apnea, arm and elbow disorders, frostbite residuals, low back disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, psychiatric disorders, pes planus, gout in the lower extremities, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee arthritis, and right lower extremity nerve disorder as secondary to bilateral pes planus due to new evidence received after the July 2010 denial.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of pes planus, right, was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is June 28, 2011.,A rating of 30 percent for pes planus, right, was granted as of January 21, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his left knee, lumbar spine, and foot disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right knee rating issue.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to September 16, 2017 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as there was no eligible party for substitution.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,Service connection was also denied for benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms with obstruction. There was no evidence of onset during service or relationship to in-service injuries.

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability due to lack of competent evidence of current disability at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, left foot, and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,A rating in excess of 10 percent as of December 17, 2010, and prior to August 3, 2018, for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from her Army Reserves period of service. The Board will also schedule Gulf War Illness examinations to determine if any of her conditions are related to her military service in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus, depression prior to July 16, 2014 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, and bilateral pes planus claims were denied. The effective date for service connection for depression was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if service connection can be granted for lumbar spine, left foot, and right foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and further development regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to June 25, 2014 and from June 25, 2014. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent. The left knee patella tendon tear and instability are both rated at 20 percent. The right Achilles tendonitis is rated at 20 percent. The bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent prior to June 25, 2014 and from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and coronary artery disease, are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability from November 9, 2010. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, claimed as cellulitis, is reopened. The Board has also remanded the claims for pes planus and other bilateral foot disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease was granted service connection. The issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and right foot hallux valgus are remanded, as well as the rating for service-connected bilateral shin splints.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability and left foot disability, both of which are secondary to his service-connected right Achilles tendonitis.