Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding medical records and requests for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and disability ratings is remanded, while the TDIU claim from October 17, 2011 to April 4, 2012 is also remanded. The Board will consider whether the Veteran can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and bilateral lower extremity plantar nerve mixed neuropathy due to incomplete adjudication.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, chronic feet dryness, and glaucoma. The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, while his fractures of the left long and index fingers are each rated at 10 percent.,Service connection for pes planus (fallen arches) is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's lung disability, low back disability, upper back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, sinus disability, memory loss, hypertension, colon polyps, prostate disability, stomach disability, skin disability (including skin cancer and actinic keratosis), throat disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney cysts, and liver cyst are all denied. However, the Veteran's lung disability is granted as due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's left heel spur and plantar fasciitis are granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee and back disabilities.,The Veteran's bilateral vision problems are granted as secondary to service-connected TBI and posttraumatic headaches.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted a 50% rating effective August 13, 2018. The Board found that the increase in disability was factually ascertainable as of August 13, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for flat feet, finding that there is no medical evidence linking a current diagnosis of flat feet to service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right lower extremity condition (Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder) was granted with a 20% rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as arthrosis, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral or unilateral foot disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or disease and that any pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed again with new VA opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is found to be due to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and low back disability with sciatica. The case will be reviewed again for a proper assessment.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis and bilateral pes planus did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment between January 31, 2005, to January 30, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal for clothing allowances for shoe orthotics and ankle braces was denied because shoes are not classified as 'clothing' by VA, and the devices were found to be too old to qualify.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his pes planus loss is denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and determination of whether referral for an extraschedular rating is warranted.