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

The Veteran's right foot disability has been rated at 10 percent since May 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms of a moderately-severe injury, and thus denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral pes planus disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by his military service, including training over several decades of service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee/leg disorder, and back disorder with arthritis as the evidence did not show a direct relationship to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ear disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral pes planus, nonservice-connected disability pension, and TDIU were denied. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his meniscal disability was granted with specific time periods.

The Board denied service connection for various knee disorders, a left foot disorder, high blood pressure, and a stomach condition. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a low back disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or are related to service. Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a headache disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a distinct and separate condition from sinusitis.,From September 9, 2005, to February 3, 2008, the Veteran's asthma associated with sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various foot, knee, and hip conditions that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions considering the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of claim to the present.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 20% evaluation for service-connected left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis and bunion was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 60% evaluation for service-connected hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine and Muscle Group XVIII, claimed as pelvic rotation associated with soft tissue lacerations right foot and heel with residual pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle/foot disability, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and bilateral eye disabilities due to inextricably intertwined issues with the predicate issue of entitlement to service connection for right ankle/foot disability. The TDIU claim is also deferred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee DJD, left knee DJD, lumbar spine DDD, and right plantar fasciitis have been granted. The evidence submitted since the May 1995 rating decision is considered new and material as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent, and he was granted separate ratings for LLE and RLE radiculopathy prior to May 8, 2017. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantial gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. His current disability is related to his in-service broken nose and weight gain. The rating assigned for the right shoulder, left shoulder, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of adequate examination addressing flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus prior to April 14, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, bilateral pes planus, left and right foot hallux valgus, left and right knee disorders, and bilateral metatarsalgia were denied as there was no communication prior to the dates of receipt that could be construed as a formal or informal claim.,The effective date assigned for each condition is the date of receipt of the claim, which is either October 3, 2011 (for hypertensive retinopathy and pes planus) or July 27, 2011 (for hallux valgus and knee disorders).,The Veteran's claims for service connection were not granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to insufficient reasons and basis in the previous decisions, including failing to address the competency of VA examiners and the Veteran's medical training. The issues are now being returned for further development.

The Veteran's death in May 2014 was not related to a service-connected disability. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.