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

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for various joint disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further examination and consideration.

The rating reduction from 50 to 30 percent for service-connected bilateral pes planus was improper, and the appeal for restoration of a 50 percent disability rating is granted.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Board found that her very frequent prostrating attacks meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that they do not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of severe symptoms with objective evidence of marked deformity or swelling.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, as well as its relationship to his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee and/or foot disabilities. The rating for residuals of a fracture of the femur with DJD of the left knee is increased to 30 percent effective October 15, 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted an initial rating of 10 percent prior to January 3, 2020. The condition manifested in moderate symptoms with the weight-bearing line over or medial to the great toe and inward bowing of the Achilles tendon.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral knee arthritis were granted, while her claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted and others are not.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral pes planus and TDIU due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, left knee, right foot disabilities and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are believed to be related to in-service injuries during airborne training.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral foot disability (diagnosed as trench foot). The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to September 26, 2008 as the Veteran was able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has denied service connection for plantar fasciitis with neuromas and trigger finger of the right 3rd digit, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for right ankle disability, and service connection for right foot condition have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the current conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and bilateral foot disability, as well as service connection for various conditions, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD or bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder has been reopened. The initial disability rating for bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis prior to December 8, 2019 is granted at 10 percent. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for breathing issues, back injury, elbow injury, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and plantar fasciitis have been denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran was scheduled for a VA foot examination but failed to appear without good cause. As such, his claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis is decided based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for left foot disability due to lack of VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and bilateral foot disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and her military service or any service-connected disability.