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

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are granted service connection as they were aggravated by military service. Bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of in-service onset or progression.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral arm/shoulder disability, low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, bilateral eye disability (claimed as myopia), left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied. The Board found that his depression did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection regarding mitral valve prolapse, scars secondary to the condition, bilateral plantar calluses and pes planus with left foot Morton neuroma and metatarsalgia, and epididymitis have been dismissed. The motion to revise a May 2014 rating decision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error has been granted for both service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, knee disabilities, skin condition, and PTSD have all been granted service connection. The left bicep disability has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of left-Achilles tendonitis, right-Achilles tendonitis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis for further development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is denied.,Service connection is granted for the residuals of HPV, including residuals of cervical dysplasia and partial hysterectomy. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this finding.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded due to lack of medical examination or opinion regarding her current condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is remanded as there is insufficient information on whether it was caused by the service-connected right ankle disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for partial hysterectomy is remanded as there is insufficient information on whether it was due to HPV or its complications.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his ratings are also denied.,Additional medical records are needed to evaluate the Veteran’s claims, including those related to plantar fasciitis, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining missing in-service medical records from Fort Jackson. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending and will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is obtained.

Service connection is granted for left and right foot disabilities, myelodysplasia, emphysema, COPD, lung cancer, and ischemic heart disease.,Service connection is denied for sinus disability.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities, as well as his COPD, were not shown to be related to service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability, specifically whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including neck disability, left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, tonsil disability, acid reflux (GERD), and headaches. The decision also includes requests for VA examinations and for SSA disability records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right foot condition and its relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from May 27, 2011. The issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with degenerative joint disease of the right foot remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been granted a 50% rating, the highest available under DC 5276.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was previously rated at noncompensable, but has now been increased to 30 percent effective January 14, 2013. The Board denied an increase in evaluation for the disability after this date.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine condition, lower back condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence in his service treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to pain from her service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's depression, migraine headaches, and thoracolumbar strain with IVDS are all found to be proximately due to her service-connected conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied. Other claims for increased ratings have been decided in favor of the Veteran.