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

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for bilateral foot disability (claimed as frost bite) is granted and remanded, while the claim for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of four issues related to service connection for various ankle, ring finger, foot, and knee disabilities due to the Veteran's election into the modernized review system.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to March 27, 2015, and a higher evaluation as of May 31, 2017, for bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur was denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings of patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and cervical strain.

The Veteran's right leg atrophy, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot first MTP joint arthralgia have been granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent each.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for pes planus as there is insufficient evidence and a need for further development.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, and dry eye syndrome with pinguecula and punctate keratitis are granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded an initial rating of 20 percent for his dry eye condition.

The Veteran's GERD, left shoulder disability, insomnia, hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia, flat feet (pes planus), and tinnitus are not service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not service-connected.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its remand directives and has therefore ordered the claims to be returned for further development regarding the Veteran's service-connected recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and plantar fasciitis of the right foot.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and other service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and erectile dysfunction due to PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are currently under consideration, as is his claim for secondary service connection of ED.,Further examination and analysis are needed to determine if any non-service-connected psychiatric conditions are related to PTSD or other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right toe fracture caused or aggravated his claimed right foot disability, specifically plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his bilateral foot disabilities due to new evidence suggesting a worsening of symptoms. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right and left foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot condition, right shoulder strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability due to these conditions attributable to active service. The Veteran's stomach cancer is remanded for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on its relationship to active service.,Service connection for stomach cancer is remanded as the October 2015 VA examination did not address this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and granted a 50% disability rating for bilateral pes planus. The decision found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran’s claimed stressors or diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and major depressive disorder), left foot disability, right foot disability, and skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and melanoma) due to unresolved issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding his claimed conditions and lack of development on stressor verification.