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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet (pes planus) has been reopened. The claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, left leg disability (with rod emplacement), tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus. The appeals were all denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted with an effective date of August 28, 2017.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.,Service connection for bilateral foot disorder, to include plantar fasciitis and bunions, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot chronic plantar fasciitis are granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's bruxism, right ankle DJD/Arthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular DJD and osteoarthritis, and deviated nasal septum have all been granted service connection.,However, the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ear disability beyond hearing loss and tinnitus (claimed as otitis media) remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for hypertension and a bilateral foot disability, as well as the TDIU claim. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his active duty service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus of the right and left feet due to aggravation. Service connection is remanded for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral lower extremity, and bilateral foot disabilities due to new evidence indicating possible current disabilities. The Veteran's pain during service is now considered as a potential disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various lower back-related disabilities as secondary to other conditions, including neck, shoulder, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a 30 percent rating from October 25, 2018 onwards, but the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to that date remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 30% prior to December 4, 2018. Since then, the rating has been increased to 50%. The current rating is the highest allowed under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and a bilateral foot disability to include pes planus with chronic bilateral foot pain, finding that the evidence supports these claims based on in-service onset and aggravation of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records may be incomplete and requests for additional records are made. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain under review.

The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis was rated at 10% from July 22, 2016 to October 23, 2018. From October 23, 2018, the rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied.,The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis were rated under DC 5284 (other foot injuries). The criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for fungus and right foot disabilities. Additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left leg joint pain, right and left foot disabilities, sinusitis, allergies, sleep apnea, and vertigo due to a lack of current disability evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining missing STRs and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective date for bipolar disorder, service connection for sleep disorder, bilateral foot disability, and headaches as secondary to schizoaffective disorder have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of these claims by his representative.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and PTSD. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is found to have existed prior to service, and there is no evidence of aggravation during service. Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressors.,Service connection for limitation of motion, left ankle, right ankle, and plantar fasciitis are remanded for further development.