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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Board found that the current 50% disability rating is appropriate from March 9, 2021 onwards.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, special home adaptation grant, individual unemployability, and aid and attendance/housebound benefits have been dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal. The service connection claims are also dismissed due to the death of both the Veteran and his surviving spouse.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the appeal to reopen her claim for bilateral pes planus is denied.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent from August 14, 2015 to August 31, 2016. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to this date.

The Board has revised the effective date of service connection for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis from October 2015 to September 11, 2008 due to a clear and unmistakable error in not considering relevant service treatment records.

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.