Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2022

The claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral has been reopened. The Board found the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are related to his in-service frostbite exposure and secondary to his service-connected herpes simplex II.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, diagnosed as metatarsalgia, was incurred in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment and income.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus. The TDIU claim is also remanded as part of this appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right knee strain have been granted service connection. However, the issues of left foot pes planus, right knee strain, and left knee strain as secondary to a right knee strain are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus but the Board finds that his tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional examination and development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient medical opinions. The appellant is requested to provide private medical records related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, as well as degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to be related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition, left ankle condition, low back condition, hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and a condition of the bilateral feet other than pes planus. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There was no medical opinion linking any of these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to issues with the November 2017 examiner's credentials and for obtaining VA treatment records from July 2020 to the present.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hepatitis C, residuals of venereal disease (to include herpes), right wrist condition, bilateral hip conditions, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, finding that the Veteran's pes planus preexisted his military service and was not aggravated by it.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any right ankle, right leg, and right foot disorders (other than pes planus) and sinusitis/allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's service treatment records show relevant medical history and current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any current left foot disability is related to active service or caused by other service-connected disabilities.,Claims for higher ratings for chronic sinusitis prior to March 2, 2020, and from March 2, 2020, are both denied. The Veteran has experienced non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis in the past year but no incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including neck/cervical spine disability, back/thoracolumbar spine disability, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, right hand numbness, scars, recurrent right ankle sprain, right foot disability, left foot disability, right kidney disorder, and left kidney disorder. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.