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

The Veteran's foot disabilities, including pes planus, hallux valgus (left), left hammer toes, and degenerative joint disease of the great toe, are rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a higher rating to 50 percent based on extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, is granted. The appeals for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, foot and toe disabilities are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate reasons and bases in previous decisions, particularly regarding left knee and hip disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for a VA examination to determine the current severity of all left knee disabilities, including patellofemoral pain syndrome and status post meniscectomy.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple issues including service connection claims, rating determinations for hearing loss and tinnitus, and the reopening of previously denied claims. The appeals are pending and will be addressed in a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis in multiple joints and other conditions.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, left hand disability, back disability, neck disability, bilateral leg disability, and gastrointestinal disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain National Guard service records.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The bilateral foot disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right knee, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine strain disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, gout, and hallux valgus have been denied. The claim for hallux valgus is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service-connected, with the effective date set at January 23, 1977.,Service connection for verruca plantaris and left hand degenerative arthritis (left hand condition) are denied. Service connection for hepatitis C remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for dermatophytosis tinea corporis. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee total replacement, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.,However, the Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis directly to his service or a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the last statement of the case (SOC). The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for right foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted, as the Board found that his pre-service pes planus worsened during active duty. The decision is based on in-service aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus and a left knee disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left eye injury residuals are denied.,For the entire period on appeal, a disability rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, consistent with his education and occupational history.

The Veteran's left wrist flexor tendinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for fatigue, a left foot disability other than hallux valgus and/or plantar fasciitis with heel spur, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur.