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

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and granted the application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for prostate cancer residuals. The claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disability (including peptic ulcers), sleep apnea, skin disability (to include chloracne), Dupuytren’s contracture, Peyronie's disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and cervical carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a cervical spine disability due to insufficient opinions from the VA examiner regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to address service connection claims, increased rating claims, and separate ratings for surgical scars. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, OSA, hammertoe disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral plantar calluses are at issue.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects moderate limitation of motion. The Board finds no evidence of marked limitation of motion.,For the period prior to July 26, 2016, the Veteran’s DJD of the right knee was characterized by pain and some limitation of motion; however, there is no indication of ankylosis or severe symptoms warranting a higher rating. Since July 26, 2016, the Veteran's right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis with callus on the great toe have resulted in moderate to severe unilateral symptoms.,Prior to July 31, 2013, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to cervical strain. Since then, his disability has not met the criteria for favorable ankylosis or severe recurrent subluxation/lateral instability warranting a higher rating.,For the period prior to July 26, 2016, the Veteran's major depressive disorder did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. Since then, his condition has resulted in such impairment but not to the extent that it would meet the criteria for greater disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear information about the Veteran's employment history and the impact of his carpal tunnel syndrome on his ability to work. The RO needs to clarify his employment from 1999 to 2016 and obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the functional limitations caused by his carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including VA and private treatment records, as well as military medical records from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability and granted an initial rating of 10% for the Veteran's left ankle sprain. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for the left ankle sprain, a fractured left metatarsal, TDIU, and stomach/bowel disability are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left heel disability, including plantar fasciitis, as the evidence did not support a link between the current condition and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between current plantar fasciitis and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, bilateral foot disabilities (arthritis), and bilateral upper extremity disabilities (carpal tunnel syndrome) are inextricably intertwined with his exposure to herbicide agents during service. Therefore, these claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, NOS is dismissed. The rating for his back disability is denied. The appeals for the right and left foot disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The claim for left ear hearing loss is granted, and the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral pes planus due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability as secondary to the service-connected bilateral pes planus is remanded. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and residuals of a right foot fracture, and peptic ulcer are also remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was not granted as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of beneficiary travel expenses associated with dental treatment to and from the VAMC in West Haven, Connecticut is denied as he was not entitled to such payments due to VA regulations requiring reimbursement from his points of entry into the United States.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot metatarsalgia and left toe metatarsalgia, and denied service connection for respiratory disability (bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) and sleep apnea. The remaining issues are remanded.