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

The Board has determined that remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disability, and skin disability due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus as there was no evidence of aggravation during service and his preexisting condition did not worsen.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's right foot disability claim is denied as it occurred during his dishonorable period and not related to service.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including those related to the Veteran's neck disorder, neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, hip disorder, sleep apnea, right knee surgical scar, traumatic arthritis of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar strain with degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, foot disorders (pes planus, metatarsalgia, hammertoes, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease), and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to improper reliance on previous VA medical opinions and inadequate rationale. The Veteran's left foot conditions are being examined again to determine their relationship to service, including his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his left ankle disability and right foot/heel disorders.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, as all claims have been granted in prior rating decisions. The appeal for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus is upheld.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, bilateral cataracts, refractive error with presbyopia and blepharitis (sty, inflammation, vision loss), hypoglycemia, hypertension, bilateral hip disability, radiation colitis status post colon cancer surgery, sternum disability, post chemotherapy cognitive impairment, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, high cholesterol, bilateral plantar fasciitis, temporomandibular joint disorders, skin cancer, bilateral wrist disability, chloracne, liver disability, broken nasal bone, a disability manifested by loss of balance, dizziness, and frequent falls, chronic unexplained disability manifested by muscle weakness, fatigue, heat exhaustion, cramps, and malnutrition or lack of nutrients, genitourinary disability (kidney disability), residuals of chicken pox, and measles virus.,The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for radiation colitis status post colon cancer surgery, stomach problems, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence, gas, and cramped bowel; and for genitourinary disability (kidney disability).

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent prior to January 3, 2017.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, alcohol dependence, traumatic brain injury, is rated at 10 percent prior to April 15, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and right knee disability are now granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus is also granted as service-connected, but the headaches and bronchitis issues remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for bilateral metatarsalgia.,A separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for hallux valgus of the right foot and left foot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to paranoid schizophrenia with depressive disorder and a compensable initial rating for flat feet due to insufficient evidence regarding causation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a procedural error in considering only the claim from September 2015 onwards, and will now consider all relevant records since June 2009. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 10, 2015, for service connection for bilateral pes planus was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its decision and failure to consider all relevant evidence, including VA treatment records and clinical evaluations. The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus and degenerative toe arthritis are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left foot disabilities, finding that the conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty or were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The lower back, lacerations of the back, left foot, and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the July 2018 rating decision was not a RAMP decision and did not come after February 19, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD, cervical spine disability, left foot disability, and other service-connected conditions are all rated at the highest possible level (70%), but his claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndromes, and elbow/thumb disabilities have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the aggravation of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus by active service. The Board finds that a new VA examination and medical opinion are needed.