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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, and physical impairments of the right shoulder, knees, back, and eyes, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective November 2, 2015.

The Veteran's trixaicin cream was not used in conjunction with a service-connected skin disability, thus the clothing allowance claim for 2016 is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and related conditions are granted. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during service, which supports his claims for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence received.,No effective date is assigned as the Veteran's claim was granted on February 6, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of residuals of an insect bite, gastrointestinal disability characterized by abdominal pains, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, respiratory disability, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and increased rating for chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis of the right knee have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest schedular rating (50%) and no higher, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection is granted for right foot disabilities including pes planus and hallux valgus. The Board finds that these conditions were aggravated by service but did not pre-exist it.,The Veteran's heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active duty or service-connected events, nor is there any link to a disease or injury incurred in service.,Service connection for GERD is granted. The Veteran's condition had its onset during ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's hepatitis B is rated at 40 percent, and his left foot disability is granted service connection. The head injury residuals are denied, as well as the low back, neck, and bilateral hip disabilities. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot degenerative arthritis, and hallux valgus due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal of service connection for a prostate disability and has remanded several other issues related to various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, upper extremity, lower extremity neuropathies, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions do not render it impossible for her to obtain or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

Service connection for residuals of right hand, middle finger injury is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and seizures are denied.,Left shin splints and right shin splints cases are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral pes planus, and hallux valgus. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders began during active service, his bilateral pes planus worsened beyond its natural progression due to active service, and his hallux valgus began during active service.,Service connection is established for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral pes planus, and hallux valgus.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.,An effective date of August 1, 2016, for the grant of a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus is granted. The earlier effective date of October 10, 2012, but no earlier, is also granted for this condition.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disorder secondary to his bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder (to include pes planus), right ear hearing loss, back disorder (to include IVDS), heart disorder, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Specifically, additional examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's current foot disorders were aggravated by service or related to service.

The Board has dismissed all issues due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he has been employed during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to determine the severity of his bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus prior to April 14, 2012. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion regarding the duration and functional impact of the Veteran's symptoms during this period.

The Board has determined that there was a failure to substantially comply with its remand directives for the issues of entitlement to service connection for left foot and jaw disabilities. As such, these matters are being returned to the RO for further development.