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

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbosacral spine condition and a bilateral hip and leg condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition associated with bilateral pes planus) due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims. The Board also denied an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus.,Service connection was not granted because there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran’s spine or joint conditions to his active service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their impact on his upper and lower extremities, as they do not result in loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right foot pes planus. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that further development is needed for the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right foot pes planus due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that the preexisting condition was aggravated by active service.

Service connection for a neck disability is granted. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective March 9, 2019. The issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities and increased rating for left foot pes planus with heel spur are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right and left ankle disorders, higher initial ratings for right and left knee disabilities, and a higher initial rating for residuals of a right inguinal hernia due to incomplete or inadequate examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot disability is related to his service, including aggravating a pre-existing condition during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 25, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, hip, foot, knee, and shoulder disabilities as they are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was denied because there is no evidence of any diagnosed condition in service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal regarding past-due benefits and service connection for bilateral pes planus, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for low back disability, stomach disability, skin rash, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left foot disability is not service-connected, but his acquired psychiatric condition related to service is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and acne prior to February 27, 2020 are denied. A higher rating for acne from February 27, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities precluding substantially gainful employment.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a current disability in accordance with VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee disability and left hip disability due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including sleep disability, sleep apnea, right foot and leg disabilities, due to pending development and lack of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability characterized as bilateral Achilles tendon spur formation with Achilles tendinitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral first MTP joint osteoarthritis. The condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the March 2014 VA examiner's opinion and the need for clarification on whether the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus is a congenital disease or defect.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's applications to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for arthritis, a back disorder, schizoaffective disorder and/or bipolar disorder, and flat feet. The application to reopen the PTSD claim was also dismissed as there is no current disability remaining upon which service connection can be based.

The Veteran's claim for CRDP payments prior to September 1, 2014 was denied. The Board also found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and ordered the RO to send the Veteran a notification letter regarding an October 2017 audit indicating he was entitled to a retroactive compensation payment of $984.00 for the period from January 2017 to May 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service-connected conditions.