The Veteran's left calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 20% and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,For the period prior to January 17, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated at 10%, but the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating. For the period from January 17, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 20% and the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10%, but the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating. The Veteran's GERD disability is now rated at 30%.,Service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to GERD were both granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s left calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis warrants a higher rating than 20%. The symptoms are described as mild, and there is no objective evidence of marked deformity or swelling in the feet on use.,For the period prior to January 17, 2018, the Veteran’s lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated at 10% because forward flexion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the period from January 17, 2018, the Veteran's condition does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of favorable ankylosis or prescribed bed rest to treat his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10% and the Board found no basis for a higher rating. The GERD disability has been rated at 30%, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 7346.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on evidence showing that it is related to service, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to GERD was granted as a result of the Veteran's existing GERD disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Left calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis, Lumbar degenerative disc disease, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Tinnitus, Obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20043227
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20043227.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
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