Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Veteran's DDD of the spine is not rated higher than 10 percent.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent.,Bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, effective October 5, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether his right foot fractures were aggravated by his service-connected pes planus with metatarsalgia and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the diabetes mellitus, umbilical hernia, and right eyelid condition issues. The Veteran's migraine headaches and acquired psychiatric condition (including MDD and PTSD) have been granted.,Issues related to spastic duodenal bulb, asthma, bilateral hips, bilateral feet, hiatal hernia, bilateral knees, skin condition, left finger, bilateral elbows, bilateral hands, malaria symptoms, lazy esophageal sphincter, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, ischemic colitis, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), diverticulitis, low back, and neck conditions have been remanded for further review.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, finding that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of the condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete service treatment records, particularly regarding physical therapy at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for any outstanding private medical records related to his back or foot problems since separation from service in August 1996.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and plantar fascitis, PTSD, right wrist ganglion cyst with tendonitis, and left wrist ganglion cyst with tendonitis, do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,The Veteran's right foot disorder claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on chronicity of symptoms after separation from service.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link to service.,Service connection for left foot disorder is denied due to lack of in-service event, injury or disease.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded.,Small bowel intussusception claim is remanded.,Headache disorder (including migraine and tension) claim is remanded.,Thoracolumbar spine disorder claim is remanded.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Erectile dysfunction claim is remanded.,Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (claimed as right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, etc.) claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his orthopedic conditions and diabetes mellitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and a right wrist disability due to insufficient compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified neurocognitive disorder and unspecified sleep-wake disorder is granted a 100 percent rating. The Veteran's left maxillary sinusitis is granted a 30 percent rating, but not higher. The Veteran's right foot pes planus is granted an initial 10 percent rating prior to February 17, 2015, and denied for any rating in excess of 20 percent beginning February 17, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral flat feet were denied, with the effective date set at May 24, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral foot disability (claimed as frostbite of the feet) are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. Additional VA treatment records must be obtained, and new medical opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are related to toxic exposure risk activities or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle strain and degenerative joint disease of the left first metatarsal are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings allowed under current regulations.,The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy and compression parasthesia associated with lumbosacral strain since March 17, 2023 is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an increased rating for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess his lumbar spine disability, pes planus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The examiner must consider the severity of flare-ups and functional limitations caused by these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete adjudication, and requires issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for clarification of residuals from the service-connected right 5th metatarsal fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical strain), lumbar spine disability (claimed as lumbar strain), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than an insomnia disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, and an acquired psychological disability to include depression due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including pes planus, back impairment, right hip impairment, gastritis, diabetes, and related neuropathies have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as the claim was filed within one year of separation from service.