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

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's current right ankle disorder is being reviewed, and it needs further clarification on whether her left ankle plantaris tendon graft residuals contributed to her fall.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to the assigned ratings for various conditions have been denied. The claims are remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a spine disability, increased ratings for right knee and left ankle disabilities, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA examinations and private treatment records as needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at Level I in both ears, warranting a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's left foot disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since February 20, 2007, finding that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the need to obtain outstanding private treatment records. The issues include reopening a claim of bilateral pes planus, as well as service connection for low back disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip disability, knee disability, stomach disability, and skin rash.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a positive tuberculosis test are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including heart disorder, sleep apnea, back disability, right foot disability, and hernia, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and bilateral foot condition (plantar fasciitis) due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's left plantar fasciitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected right plantar fasciitis.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for a sleep disorder (claimed as 'sleep disturbances') is denied as no such condition was diagnosed during the period on appeal.,Fatigue is denied as there is no evidence of chronic fatigue syndrome or other primary disability manifested by fatigue.,Chest pain and memory loss are not shown to be related to service-connected PTSD.,Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, hypertension, a left foot disability, a right hip disability, and a blood disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of a higher rating due to limited motion.,The Veteran's residuals of fracture of the right radial head are currently rated as noncompensable. The VA examiner found no functional impairment and normal range of motion.,For status post right fibular fracture, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent from September 15, 2014 onwards. Prior to this date, the Veteran's disability was considered asymptomatic. After September 15, 2014, the VA examiner found moderate limited motion of the ankle.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur is rated at 10 percent from May 11, 2015 to September 12, 2016. After this date, the disability is rated higher than 50 percent.,Hypertension is not service-connected and thus no rating is assigned.,Left ankle scars associated with status post left ankle open reduction internal fixation surgery are currently rated as noncompensable.,Surgical scar status post open reduction internal fixation right fibula fracture is also rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of medical opinion on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's plantar warts and calluses of both feet have been granted increased ratings, with the left foot receiving a 30% rating and the right foot receiving a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on the issues of an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and a TDIU due to additional relevant evidence received since the last adjudication.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, kidney disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and prostate disability due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus disability may have been aggravated by service, but an additional VA examination is needed to determine if this aggravation was clear and unmistakable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The claim for increased evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea was also denied, with a current rating of 50%. The issue of service connection for foot disorder (bilateral pes planus) remains pending and will be remanded.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is currently rated at 50%, but the evidence does not show that it meets or more nearly approximates criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is not afforded an examination or opinion on whether he suffered from head injuries, right-hand, right-foot, low back, cervical spine, bilateral leg, and hip disabilities during service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis with right heel calcaneal spur is rated at 50% from September 7, 2018.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.