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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, including plantar fasciitis. The case is being sent back to obtain additional medical evidence and for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral degenerative 1st MTP joint disease with right hallux valgus and bilateral calcaneal spur, tinnitus, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and bilateral pes planus (also claimed as flat feet) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral sacroiliac joint and for pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet, insomnia, right ankle disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral wrist disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran’s current insomnia is considered a component of her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the claims for initial compensable ratings for left and right achilles tendonitis, as well as service connection for left and right foot disorders, need to be remanded due to inadequate examinations and lack of a clear opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional information and evaluation regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection have been denied. The effective date of the award for bilateral pes planus has been dismissed.,Service connection for gunshot wounds, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and prostate cancer were all denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 2, 2010 did not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). However, her claim is being remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities, blindness, burns, or inhalation injury.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims due to new VA treatment records and examination reports being added to the record after an August 2017 rating decision.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to unresolved issues regarding effective dates and service connection for a right foot disability. The remaining two issues are deferred until these matters are resolved.

The Board has remanded the issues of fatigue, joint pain, sleep disturbances and respiratory problems due to an undiagnosed illness for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to her service-connected right and left foot disabilities.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claim has been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for accrued benefits was not timely filed, as the appellant did not submit a claim within one year of her husband's death. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The claims of entitlement to a higher rating for Reiter’s syndrome prior to September 21, 2015 and for TDIU prior to September 15, 2015 were withdrawn.

The Veteran's heart disability, bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all denied as not incurred or related to service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

A rating of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted effective April 24, 2019. A higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and lack of consideration of the Veteran's complaints during service. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left foot disability, which has worsened since the last examination.