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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus of the right and left feet due to aggravation. Service connection is remanded for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral lower extremity, and bilateral foot disabilities due to new evidence indicating possible current disabilities. The Veteran's pain during service is now considered as a potential disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various lower back-related disabilities as secondary to other conditions, including neck, shoulder, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a 30 percent rating from October 25, 2018 onwards, but the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to that date remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30% prior to December 4, 2018. Since then, the rating has been increased to 50%. The current rating is the highest allowed under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and a bilateral foot disability to include pes planus with chronic bilateral foot pain, finding that the evidence supports these claims based on in-service onset and aggravation of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records may be incomplete and requests for additional records are made. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain under review.

The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis was rated at 10% from July 22, 2016 to October 23, 2018. From October 23, 2018, the rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied.,The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis were rated under DC 5284 (other foot injuries). The criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for fungus and right foot disabilities. Additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left leg joint pain, right and left foot disabilities, sinusitis, allergies, sleep apnea, and vertigo due to a lack of current disability evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining missing STRs and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective date for bipolar disorder, service connection for sleep disorder, bilateral foot disability, and headaches as secondary to schizoaffective disorder have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of these claims by his representative.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and PTSD. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is found to have existed prior to service, and there is no evidence of aggravation during service. Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressors.,Service connection for limitation of motion, left ankle, right ankle, and plantar fasciitis are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and low back strain due to a lack of current VA examination, and requests that a new one be conducted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left foot disability. The VA will obtain updated treatment records and provide a new opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims for reopening and service connection due to new evidence received since the last denial. The low back condition claim is reopened, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's headaches and foot disability, both claimed as secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left foot disabilities prior to October 5, 2009 are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus as the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.