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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as due to an undiagnosed illness was denied because there were no objective findings of the condition and it did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis.,Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there was no evidence showing that the condition manifested within the applicable presumptive period or during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as related secondary conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses include hammer toe, hallux valgus, osteopenia, heel spur, metatarsus adductus, and arthritis in both feet.

The Veteran's nosebleeds are considered the result of a congenital defect and not service-connected. His hypertension is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet his request for an increased rating. His erectile dysfunction is currently rated as noncompensable due to its being related to medication use. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains at 50 percent despite the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The issues on appeal include service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, radiculopathy, and a bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, hypertension, heart disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and MDD. The decision also noted that the Veteran was granted service connection for migraines and RLE radiculopathy effective August 22, 2014.

The Veteran's left ring finger fracture and small finger stiff proximal interphalangeal flexion contracture are each rated as noncompensable under the applicable VA rating criteria.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent, effective June 1, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for venereal disease, bilateral pes planus, hepatitis C, and dental condition due to lack of current diagnoses or persistent/recurrent symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for eczema was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a 60 percent rating under DC 7806, and thus denied the claim. The issue of service connection for pes planus is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right knee pain and right foot disability, as they are related to service-connected lumbosacral strain. The VA needs to obtain additional medical evidence and schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine if these conditions are directly related or secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral foot scars are granted a 10 percent rating, and his bilateral pes planus is denied an extraschedular rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's discharge was due to service-connected bilateral pes planus, meeting the eligibility criteria for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar DDD has been dismissed as she withdrew her claim prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. However, further development is needed as the VA examination reports do not provide sufficient information on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, a lower extremity disorder (claimed as knee or leg condition), an acquired psychiatric condition (to include anxiety due to trauma and unspecified depressive disorder), and vision loss, have all been denied. The Board found that the preexisting conditions did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 13, 2013, for service connection of various conditions have been denied as a matter of law due to the preclusion of VA compensation while on active duty. The Board also remanded several issues related to chest pain and other disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lower back pain and bilateral foot conditions, have rendered him unemployable from August 12, 2016 to May 1, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU rating during this period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder was reopened, and he is now granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder.,An effective date of August 1, 2013 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for his right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbosacral spine condition and a bilateral hip and leg condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition) associated with bilateral pes planus. The appeal is granted.