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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left and right leg conditions is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner will determine if his current diagnoses are related to his in-service conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment.,B.'s permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining 18 years of age is denied as her psychiatric symptoms did not manifest before she turned 18.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee arthritis, a foot disability (plantar fibromatosis), and lower spine arthritis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, as the current evidence does not establish service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and several joint conditions, require the need for aid and attendance due to his inability to dress himself and manage his daily needs.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the knees and legs, tendonitis of the knees, a bilateral foot disability, residuals of a cold weather injury (frostbite), skin disorder (eczema), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's preexisting flat feet were not aggravated by service, and his current symptoms are attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, bilateral pes planus, and urethritis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for a 30% rating for pes planus and SMC based on housebound status, finding no clear undebatable error in the original decisions.

The Board finds that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the issues must be remanded back to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction for supplemental opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteopenia was denied. The Board found that osteopenia alone is not a disability warranting VA compensation benefits and there was no underlying disease or injury to which the osteopenia could be related. The claims for increased ratings were remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand several claims due to the addition of new VA treatment records, which were not reviewed by the AOJ. The Veteran's right ankle strain claim also requires an updated examination as his symptoms may have worsened since the last evaluation in March 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral flat feet remains in appellate status and requires further development due to the need for a supplemental examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain (low back condition) is remanded as the VA examiner did not adequately address potential contributory factors from a motor vehicle accident during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, anxiety and depression remains in appellate status and requires further development due to the need for a supplemental examination.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disability and TMJ was reopened, with the new evidence showing diagnoses of low back pain and TMJ. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it is at least as likely as not due to her service-connected vertigo.,The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine has been granted a 30% disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the August 2017 VA examination report and the need for further clarification on whether the Veteran's left foot pain causes functional impairment related to his service. The examiner is also requested to provide an opinion regarding secondary service connection due to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection. The appeal is also remanded for further examination regarding special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral flat feet, unspecified anxiety disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder (psychiatric disability), migraine headaches, and kidney disability have been granted. The claim for acne was denied. Effective November 17, 2015, the Veteran is now receiving a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD as he withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain and a heart condition, as well as pes planus, were granted. Service connection was also denied for hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases of left knee, right knee, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further development. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) remains in dispute.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, eye disability, skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae), sleep apnea, hypercholesterolemia, heart disability, COPD, lung disability other than COPD, diabetes mellitus, type II, hernia, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.