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

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's right foot disability and compensable rating for pes planus of the right foot. The Veteran's right foot disability is currently rated at 20% on and after October 16, 2015, but no higher due to a combined rating limit. The compensable rating for pes planus was denied before November 18, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no increase in severity or aggravation of the condition during active service and thus failing to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and unclear status of other records requests. A new VA opinion is needed regarding whether the right foot disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service or was caused by active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and low back disability due to additional development being required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that the current right foot disability is not related to an in-service frostbite injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear information about his periods of service, particularly regarding deployments. The claims will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability aggravated her right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining a medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right shoulder disability and rating of bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for sinusitis prior to June 29, 2015, and a higher rating thereafter was denied.,For the left foot disability, the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating prior to June 29, 2015, and a higher rating from that date forward was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and right foot disability due to his service-connected left ankle disability. The claims are being returned for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to ensure proper notification of their unavailability. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's left and right leg shin splints are not manifested by at least slight knee or ankle disability, resulting in a denial of compensable ratings.,Throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran's GERD has been manifested by pyrosis and reflux, qualifying for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no symptoms meeting the criteria for a 30 or 60 percent rating.,Throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus symptoms in their totality reflect at worst moderate pes planus, qualifying for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5276. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no symptoms meeting the criteria for a 20 or 30 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for sleep apnea and residuals of a fracture of the third metatarsal of the left foot. The claim for service connection for a left foot disability is granted, but the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the appellant's current left foot disability was incurred in or is otherwise causally related to his active service.

Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is manifested by pain and extreme tenderness of the heels and arches during periods of prolonged standing and walking, which more closely approximates a 10 percent evaluation.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for eczema bilaterally of the shins is denied. The Veteran's eczema affects less than 5% of his total body area with topical therapy required during the past year.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the stringent standard of 'loss of use' for his feet prior to December 13, 2013. Therefore, an effective date prior to that date is denied.

The appeal for service connection for headaches has been dismissed. The appeals for sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and bilateral pes planus have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injuries, and lack of records from his hospitalization.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total rating for convalescence following right foot surgery from January 1, 2017 to February 1, 2017. The Board found that there was no evidence of continued severe post-operative residuals after December 2016 and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms were fully contemplated by her current disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status was denied as he did not meet the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).