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

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral foot disability and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records, including missing VA treatment records from after September 2015. The Veteran's full medical history is needed to make informed decisions.

The appeal for service connection for leukopenia is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, left shoulder osteoarthritis with chronic tendonitis and impingement syndrome, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, right knee chondromalacia of the patella, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of a permanent and total nature, and the Board has dismissed his claims for increased ratings as he withdrew them at his hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, left heel bursitis, and right foot disability due to a lack of records from Dr. C.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, which is related to his acquired psychiatric disorder, needs further development and will be remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for PFB is denied, and his service connection claim for bilateral flatfoot/pes planus based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), but has remanded her claim for traumatic brain injury/neurocognitive disability due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increase are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and bone spurs were not incurred or aggravated by service, as the evidence does not show an increase in severity beyond normal progression.,Service connection for a left arm disability (lumbar spine) is remanded to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee and foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral pes planus, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran must be provided opportunity to submit a VA Form 9, Substantive Appeal to the Board regarding the increased rating claim. The earlier effective date and TDIU claims need to be adjudicated by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with left calcaneal spur and right talus degenerative joint disease prior to June 20, 2014 is dismissed. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disorders are related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for pes planus, Raynaud's disease, and neck disability. The low back disability is considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because the evidence did not show that the Veteran had a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 4, 2016, for the grant of service connection for left ankle traumatic arthritis status post open reduction with internal fixation has been denied. The Board also remanded the issues regarding rating in excess of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis and rating in excess of 10 percent for plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning May 11, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his bilateral foot disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The decision found no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, left hallux valgus; hallux rigidus; metatarsalgia, and right hallux valgus; hallux rigidus; metatarsalgia due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset of his foot conditions.

The Board's decision is revised to deny the claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate, effective July 12, 2013.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee. Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, residuals of a left leg fracture, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, right hallux valgus (bunions), and left hallux valgus (bunions). The cases are remanded for further action.