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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to concerns about the qualifications of the examiner who conducted his VA examination and for obtaining additional private urology records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to new VA treatment records being added to the case file.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities due to her failure to cooperate with VA examination scheduling.,VA examinations were conducted, but the Veteran failed to RSVP or provide a reason for non-compliance.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, characterized as bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, was not aggravated by active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for aggravation of preexisting bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no increase in severity during active service. The Board also found no evidence to support presumptive service connection for arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and needs further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was present before service and not aggravated by or during service, thus denying service connection.,There is no evidence that the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability is secondary to his service-connected costochondritis. The Board finds it unrelated to service on a direct basis as well.,Similarly, there is no evidence that the Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected costochondritis or related to in-service injury. They are found not to be related to service.,The Veteran’s heart disability was denied due to lack of medical evidence linking it to service-connected costochondritis.,TDIU claim is denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, left wrist disability, sinusitis, residuals of umbilical hernia repair, DM, asthma, OSA and hypertension have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since November 2007. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral flat feet worsened during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The left and right knee strains, as well as plantar fasciitis of the feet, were denied. Service connection for PTSD was also denied. However, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for lumbar spine disability prior to December 17, 2014 and from March 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015 was granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for updated examinations to assess his thoracic degenerative disc disease, bilateral flatfoot disability, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis is granted to no more than 20 percent, subject to laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is not related to service and denied this claim. The Board also remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's bilateral lateral epicondylitis, left foot acquired pes cavus and plantar fasciitis, granuloma of the lung, shortness of breath and dyspnea on exertion due to an undiagnosed illness, and bilateral hand disability (claimed as hand pain) are all granted service connection.,The Veteran's rash of the face, arms, hands, and chest, painful joints of the shoulders, hips, and knees, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and right foot metatarsalgia are not related to his military service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is not related to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder remains under consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The claims will be reconsidered with the inclusion of all relevant information.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for pes planus of the right foot, finding that it was aggravated during his period of active duty from October 1990 to May 1991.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 30 percent prior to November 17, 2017. The Board has granted this rating and denied any higher ratings thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.