Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various foot, shoulder, hip, ankle, fatigue, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and psychiatric conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There was no medical nexus provided to link any of the Veteran's current diagnoses to his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and plantar fasciitis are rated at 10 percent, with no higher rating due to the severity of his symptoms. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the degree of limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, cervical muscle spasms, and lumbar myositis, minimal spondylosis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.,The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, specifically a right heel bone spur, should be remanded due to inadequate consideration of his reported history and lay evidence in determining whether the condition is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a bilateral foot disability due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The Veteran's Reserve duty status and treatment records need to be verified, and an addendum opinion is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of nexus opinions and for clarification regarding the severity of his left shoulder disability. The issues include chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic constipation, PTSD, bilateral hip, hand, foot, elbow, and knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability and a skin condition, including rosacea. The Veteran's right foot conditions were not found to be related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have begun during active service and is granted.,The Veteran's tender joints, residuals of colon cancer, erectile dysfunction, and blocked nasal passages are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle and/or foot disability has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to missing VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine has full range of motion and is not service-connected.,The Veteran's right wrist symptomatology has most nearly approximated painful motion, which warrants a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 5215. The left wrist also has painful motion, warranting a separate 10% rating.

The Veteran's hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and chronic headache disability are granted as service-connected due to in-service herbicide exposure.,Bladder cancer is denied as there is no evidence of the condition during or within one year after separation from active service. Peripheral neuropathy is also denied based on lack of evidence of onset during service or within a year post-separation.

The Veteran's right lateral epicondylitis and GERD have been granted increased disability evaluations, while the other conditions remain at their current non-compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining VA treatment records from December 1989 to April 2011 and private post-service treatment records. The issues of earlier effective dates and a compensable rating are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was initially rated at 30 percent prior to August 3, 2012. From that date onward, the Veteran is now rated at 50 percent for his disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee, foot, and arm disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements about in-service injuries are considered, but the lack of documentation in service records is noted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right foot disability, finding no current disability of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and that the right foot pain is not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right ankle disability is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent. For service connection, the case is remanded as there are issues regarding bilateral foot conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent prior to May 20, 2021 and 50 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as the VA examiner did not adequately address the Veteran's contention that his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.