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

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left hand, and right hand conditions. The claims for a right ankle condition and plantar fasciitis are pending, while hearing loss and tinnitus have not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The cases are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, and a residual kidney disability, status post left kidney removal. The evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's left calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 20% and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,For the period prior to January 17, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated at 10%, but the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating. For the period from January 17, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 20% and the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10%, but the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating. The Veteran's GERD disability is now rated at 30%.,Service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to GERD were both granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis resulted in moderate symptoms from November 24, 2008, to November 15, 2016, and severe symptoms thereafter. The Board found that a rating in excess of the assigned ratings is not warranted.

The Veteran is granted a 20% rating for his right foot disability from September 16, 2011 to May 7, 2019 and a 30% rating from May 7, 2019 forward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions. The claims are related to in-service noise exposure, burning diesel fuel, gas chamber training, cold weather exposure, and handling heavy equipment.

The Veteran's left hand fracture and right ankle fracture are rated appropriately. The service connection for bilateral flat feet, hypertension, and TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected painful scars associated with bilateral plantar warts, linear scars associated with bilateral plantar warts, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, and bilateral plantar warts are all rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.,The Veteran's TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis is granted as of April 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the Veteran's address and need for additional medical examinations. The claims are related to a psychiatric disability (PTSD), bilateral pes planus, and right knee disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not submit a claim prior to June 14, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus and pes planus were denied as they clearly existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.,The Veteran's skin disability, claimed as secondary to her service-connected dermatomycosis, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened, while the right foot disability claim was reopened. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 20% rating, and the residuals of the right great toe injury remain at a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the residuals of heat stroke, eye disability, nocturia, neck disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot disability. The Veteran's service records indicate he was diagnosed with heat stroke in June 1976.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral plantar fasciitis and lipedema for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for gastritis and an increased rating for PTSD. The remaining issues of service connection for GERD, bilateral foot disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied others. The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia, depression, tinnitus, low back disability, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are now granted. However, his hypertension, bilateral foot disabilities, sleep apnea, right and left upper and lower extremity neuropathies, and heart disability remain denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing records and scheduling a VA examination.