Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left groin strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's duty status during periods of active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has identified several issues that require further review, including the need for new examinations and consideration of additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being REMANDED to allow for these reviews.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected bilateral pes planus with callosities is being remanded as additional development is required to assess the functional impairment imposed by his disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and right foot Morton Neuroma may be aggravating his right ankle condition, but a VA examination is needed to determine if this aggravation is at least as likely as not caused by these service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left foot disability and finds no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression. The low back issue is remanded as there are new imaging results indicating a current lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left hip disability is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected left foot disability. His service-connected left foot disability is also being remanded for a new VA examination to determine its current severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evidence, specifically outstanding service treatment records (STRs) that have not been associated with the claims file. The Veteran's STRs are claimed to be unavailable and efforts to obtain them were unsuccessful.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) after receiving additional evidence. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee and left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to a lack of a contemporaneous VA examination assessing his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran claims that his left foot and lumbar spine disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and coronary artery disease due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for a TTR should be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding her need for convalescence following surgeries on both feet, as her private and VA records indicate she was enrolled in classes during her postoperative recovery period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell anemia has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or superimposed disease.,The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for various disabilities, including blurred vision, hearing loss, and PTSD with memory loss, are remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Services for an initial adjudication on whether an extraschedular TDIU should be granted prior to January 28, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection and rating for his knee, plantar fasciitis, low back condition, and ankle disorders due to inadequate examinations in prior VA evaluations.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was rated at 30% prior to May 13, 2013. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the condition warranted a higher rating of 50%, and granted an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether current foot conditions are related to service. A VA examination is needed to address all diagnosed foot disorders and their relation to service.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling an examination.