Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's GERD, gastrointestinal disorders including diverticulosis, heart disorder including atherosclerotic heart disease and/or murmur, hypertension, low back disorder, and pes planus were not found to be related to her service in the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot chondromalacia and plantar fasciitis, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of service-connected right foot disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for other disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 8, 2017, and 30 percent as of that date. The claim for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's sinusitis was rated at 0 percent prior to June 8, 2017, and 30 percent as of that date. The claim for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and unclear medical evidence regarding which symptoms are attributable to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with his rating claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating determinations due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The claims are not decided at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to the law prohibiting payment of benefits before the first day of the month following the month in which the award became effective.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral metatarsalgia and increased rating for bilateral pes planus prior to December 15, 2016 was denied. The Board found that there was no indication of a diagnosis or claim for metatarsalgia prior to December 15, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of 50 percent disabling for bilateral pes planus prior to December 15, 2016 was denied. The Board found that there was no provision under the law to assign an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for metatarsalgia prior to December 15, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as the previous one did not consider his current treatment history and symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that her preexisting pes planus did not become aggravated during service and was not related to or caused by her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected. The right, low back, and left foot disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet and left heel spur are service-connected, as is fibromatosis of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet. The claim for asthma secondary to allergic rhinitis is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hand, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, foot disability, hypertension, left varicocele, and allergies. Additional development is needed to obtain treatment records for some conditions, as well as to provide new VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's IBS is granted a 10% rating, effective May 14, 2016. The right foot post-ligament plantar plate repair is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for anemia, a skin disability, a foot disability, hypertension, and PTSD as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot condition, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board found that there was no evidence of a worsening in the pre-existing bilateral flat feet condition during service, thus not meeting the criteria for aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine if any current low back/lumbar spine or right ankle disabilities had their onset during active service, including a reported fall from a trailer in Iraq in 2008. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is denied as it preexisted service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine strain, bilateral pes planus, and adjustment disorder due to inadequate examinations and failure to provide adequate reasons or bases.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.