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

The Veteran's migraine headaches, sinusitis, right elbow disability, left foot disability, gastroesophageal condition (gastritis), left hip disability, and right shoulder disability are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus, effective from June 2, 2016 to November 9, 2016. The Veteran's pes planus is severe with marked deformity and swelling on use.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to January 24, 2018, for service connection of a left foot disability and for a 60 percent rating for CAD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file any informal or formal claim for these benefits prior to January 24, 2018.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for CAD was implicitly denied by the June 2012 rating decision reducing his disability rating from 60 percent to 30 percent. The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disabilities due to obesity, as they raise issues regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disability, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus due to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any in-service complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and coccyx injury do not render him unemployable, as he has maintained a career in management despite his disabilities. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an extraschedular TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for plantar keratosis and remanded the issues of service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, a left foot disorder, and a right foot disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address due process issues and obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's employment prospects. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection is remanded due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions regarding his right ankle, bilateral pes planus, back, and left knee disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left foot disability, and back disability. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for right foot and left foot plantar warts are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to appear for a VA examination scheduled in July 2019. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining a copy of the notice of the VA examination letter or scheduling another examination if necessary.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, finding that the current diagnosed conditions are not related to service and do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The TDIU claim is being remanded because it is intertwined with other claims, including an increased rating for service-connected pes planus. The case will be returned to the Board once these other claims are adjudicated.

The appeal for the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for right foot plantar fasciitis and heel spur, as well as right knee patellofemoral syndrome, is dismissed. The issue of an increased evaluation for right knee patellofemoral syndrome remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless or confined to his dwelling that he needs regular aid and attendance of another person, nor does he meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Veteran's claims of a rating greater than 10 percent for his left shoulder disability and service connection for bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches have been denied. The VA has determined that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is dismissed.,Service connection for coronary artery disease, to include heart attacks, is granted.