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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot, low back, hip, and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty. The Veteran's eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits is also remanded as information on his periods of service is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature, etiology, severity, and service connection of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a substance abuse disability has been reopened. The issues of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including a substance abuse disability; right foot disability; sleep apnea; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; esophageal disorder; hypertension; chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD); and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot condition, calcaneal spur, foot strain, and plantar fasciitis as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The remaining issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot residual scar is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The Board found that the scar was painful but not unstable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, as secondary to his service-connected restless leg syndrome, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot status post fracture. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Reiter’s syndrome, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability. The most probative evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right hand scar, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right wrist fracture with arthritis and deformity remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include recurrent skin disabilities, foot disabilities, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndromes, gout, hypertension, vascular disabilities, pulmonary disability, prostate disability, hernia disability, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left great toe arthritis is granted. The claims for bilateral foot disability other than arthritis of the great toes and a compensable evaluation for right great toe arthritis are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left foot dermatitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional evidence, including private medical records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's left ankle and foot disabilities are being reviewed again as new and material evidence may have been received. His blood disorder is also under review.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right foot disabilities are granted, with the exception of a higher rating for his major depressive disorder. The appeals for service connection on all other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for herniated disc, lumbar spine and thoracic spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder degenerative arthritis and rotator cuff tear, bilateral ankle disability, and left flatfoot (pes planus) have all been granted. The initial ratings are 10% for rib pain status post fracture, with no higher.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral foot disability, as well as her increased rating claims for right and left knee degenerative joint disease, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disability related to service or a service-connected condition. For the knees, the Board noted no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted service connection and rated at 10%.,Service-connected back disability was initially granted a 20% rating, which has been increased to 30% after March 25, 2017. The current rating of 20% remains unchanged prior to that date.,The Veteran's left hip disability is rated at 10%. No higher rating is warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left foot disability is currently rated at 20%, and no higher rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The issues include service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and right knee and hypertension ratings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for whole body muscle spasms, a left shoulder injury, a right elbow disability, back pain, and a foot disability. As a result, these issues are dismissed.