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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disabilities, diagnosed as pes planus and plantar fasciitis, were incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity of the service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and calcaneal enthesopathy. The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA foot conditions examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right foot disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the right foot with plantar fasciitis, is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as his disability already meets the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for unspecified adjustment disorder and dysthymia with alcohol abuse disorder is granted, but only to the extent that it does not exceed the current 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, left shoulder disability, neck disability, and foot disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and left foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including his 1984 motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's eye disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and heart disability. The reasons included that the pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service, there was no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability or heart disability, and the Veteran's assertions were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right foot hallux valgus have been rated based on their service-connected status. The Board has found that the current ratings do not adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.,Service connection for lumbar strain is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for temporary total evaluation of 100 percent based on left hernia surgery and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her bilateral foot conditions and left foot wart. The Veteran contends that her current foot disabilities are related to her active duty service, but VA needs to provide a new examination to determine if her preexisting pes planus was aggravated by service or if her plantar fasciitis is secondary to her pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for other foot disabilities is remanded. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depressive disorder) is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, left ankle talocalcaneal coalition with associated left tibialis posterior tendonitis, and other orthopedic conditions, render him unemployable prior to August 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 90 percent combined, and the Board finds that they preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral foot disability, and hernia residuals due to incomplete examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus to his military service.,The Board also remanded several issues related to right shoulder, hip, ankle, foot, headache, and psychiatric disabilities due to insufficient development.

Your increased rating for right knee collateral ligament tear with limitation of motion is denied.,The Veteran's left leg condition, low back condition, and bilateral pes planus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's TDIU claim for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and duodenal ulcer is granted.,TDIU is also granted for hallux valgus of the right foot and hallux valgus of the left foot as these conditions are separately rated at 10 percent each.,The effective dates for the separate grants of service connection and evaluations for hallux valgus of the right foot and hallux valgus of the left foot are set to August 18, 2014.,TDIU is also granted for duodenal ulcer as it is rated at 60 percent.