New To Va Have Several Questions, Please Help (Foot Injury)

[W4LNY]

Ok I was in Service from 1995 to 1999 during training I had foot pain in both feet, I went to the doctor and was cleared for full duty within 2 weeks I was running heard a snapping noise and could not walk, I begged to be taken to hospital but my request was refused I was brought back to the barracks and allowed extra rest time, the following day my foot was severely swollen and black and blue, I was than rushed to same doctor I saw two weeks earlier, I was told my second metatarsal had suffered a full fracture, the doctor also told me she looked back at my records from two weeks earlier and she said I had stress fractures that she misdiagnosed the first time I was there, she pointed out I believe three locations where she could see stress fractures on the previous x-ray one of which was in the same location as the now full fracture.I was put in a cast 2 months later I was suppose to ship out from Fort Leonard Wood to fort Gordon, the doctor removed the cast said everything was healed and they put me on a plane for my PCS. At Fort Gordon I could not do PT, due to foot pain. I went to the clinic and got new xrays which revealed I still had calcium deposits on my left foot and that the fracture had not fully healed. They sent me to a specialist who said there was nothing they could do for my foot, except put me in an orthopedic shoe, the doctor also said he believed I had damage to the tendon in my foot due to the fracture but he didn't know what issues it would cause down the road, I was put on profile and remained on it for my remaining active duty time,

Since I was in the Army Reserve at the time, a few months later I was given a line of duty form and sent home (Discharged with General Discharge). ever since than I have isometric contractions along my second metatarsal to the tip of my toe, my toe will curl upward become very stiff and it will be very painful, this will last a few minutes and happens once a day since I left service. It also happens if I go in a swimming pool, so I avoid swimming. I also have foot pain daily whether walking laying down or sitting down.

Last year my foot got worse, I now get electrical shock feelings in the end of the same toe I have pain in my foot around the metatarsal that was fractured, I also have pain in the bottom heal area of my right foot, I believe is from walking incorrectly trying to compensate for the left foot pain I have. I work at a security job and I had to leave the site I was working at because I could not do the required patrols since they involved a lot of walking, I now work at another site for less pay and only par time hours, because of my foot problems.

I filled a claim myself for left foot pain last year, within 4 months I was awarded a service connection of 0% I used this to get medical treatment for my foot as I did not have any insurance before. After getting my 0% I enlisted the help of a VSO, and we have filed a letter of disagreement and requested a Review by a DRO that was last November, have not heard anything yet.Very frustrating as I am a full time single father and because of my foot problems worsening with age I am now making less income and we are struggling at home)

The VA podiatrist diagnosed me with flat foot bi lateral, (which I had before service),I think he is saying that my flat foot is now service aggravated he also said I have a pinched nerve due to the way the fracture healed (He says the metatarsal is not in the correct position anymore) and wants to do surgery to remove the pinched nerve in my left foot, the regular VA doctors and the C&P Exam noted I now have bone spurs on my heels of both feet (did not have these before service), no one can explain why. I think my right foot pain is related to this, the Podiatrist wrote in the VA Medical Records that all of my foot problems are service related in his opinion, he told me I have something he calls marchers feet.

No one seems to be able to explain the bone spurs or why I am having the isometric contractions on a daily basis, which is frustrating.

I now have Diabetic shoes (I am not diabetic though) with custom made inserts from the VA, they help but not solve my foot problems, the pain in my right foot has actually gotten worse now, since wearing these shoes.

Should I file another claim for my right foot? Should I file for the flat foot in both feet? Should I just wait for DRO first? Any opinions on my foot problems is greatly appreciated and what I should and should not file next would be of great help.

I see the podiatrist again in 2 weeks.

I also gave some other unrelated issues, I need to possibly file for, but I want to get a clearer understanding of what to do about my feet first?