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

The Board has revised the April 5, 1982 rating decision to grant service connection for bilateral pes planus effective July 25, 1981. The appeal for an earlier effective date is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right foot disability due to new evidence submitted since the previous decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral shin splints (stress fractures), a bilateral knee disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The Board found that there was no increase in severity of preexisting pes planus during service and that the Veteran did not have current disabilities of his shins, low back or knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding his claimed bilateral foot condition, back condition, and knee condition. The issues of service connection are not addressed as the appeal does not involve a claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records review, and development of his case. The specific issues include pes planus (left foot), cervical spine disability, bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, bilateral ankle, bilateral hip, right ear hearing loss, sinus/rhinitis/nose bleeds, and dysentery and residuals of food poisoning.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a musculoskeletal condition, as well as his requests for higher ratings for bilateral pes planus, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and residual surgical scars of the left foot. The Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 10 percent prior to September 21, 2011 and granted a 30 percent evaluation effective from that date.,An extraschedular evaluation for the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic inguinal strain is dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary problems (including tachycardia), drug addiction, and an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to new evidence submitted since the March 2009 denial.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right scrotal mass is remanded as it is related to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic liver disability and chronic adrenal gland disability are remanded due to contaminated water and/or medication assertions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot condition requiring arch supports and bilateral foot disability (including edema) are remanded as they are related to in-service physical training.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral wrist, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence.,No new or material evidence was provided to reopen any of these service connection claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral pes planus (flat feet) has been granted at a 50 percent level. The cervical spine condition issue is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and left ankle degenerative arthritis due to insufficient examination opinions and potential outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran will need new examinations and possibly additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is denied due to it being a congenital defect.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, periostitis of each tibia, osteoarthritis of each ankle, and right foot disability (other than pes planus and arthritis). The claims are being remanded to allow for these examinations.

This decision remands the cases of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral foot hyperkeratotic lesions and plantar warts, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for status post arthoplasty left third toe with history of fracture left great toe (to include claim for Morton’s toe), and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus. The cases are remanded due to the receipt of additional medical records since the May 2016 SOC.,Additional evidence, including VA treatment records and examination reports, has been added to the claims file and must be considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable initial rating for service-connected hypertension and for service connection for a bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various foot and knee conditions, bunions, flatfeet, and carpal tunnel syndrome due to additional evidence received after the February 2018 SOC.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, residuals of a left testicle cyst, and onychomycosis of the nails of the bilateral feet. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The issues of service connection have been remanded without a determination on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and major depressive disorder have all been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability, right ankle disability, scoliosis, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.