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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 2, 2014.

Service connection is granted for lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's current low back disorder is etiologically related to a back injury in service.,Service connection is denied for right ankle pain and left ankle pain, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. There is no evidence of chronic disability in service or post-service continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection is remanded for right wrist pain, cold and upper respiratory infections (claimed as sinus disorder), and bilateral partially compensated flatfoot and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left heel fracture and its residuals, including any plantar calcaneal spur and degenerative changes in the first MTP joint.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 30 percent each, effective July 18, 2012.,Both feet were rated separately due to the Board's remand directive.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a nerve disability was granted, and he was awarded service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headache disability, and TDIU. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for coronary artery disease, scars from surgery, and service connection for a bilateral foot disability are now before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ear hearing loss disability, and right ear hearing loss disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or aggravation during service.

The Veteran's right and left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis were denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to August 22, 2017. Beginning August 22, 2017, the Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was also denied a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of claim. Service connection for hyperkeratotic lesions is granted but not rated as they do not meet criteria for compensation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, headaches, and psychiatric disorder, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective September 2, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and a compensable initial rating for residuals of head injury, finding no nexus between current disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether any diagnosed bilateral foot disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service, including wearing military boots. The examiner must also consider whether any additional bilateral foot disability is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and DEA benefits was denied as there were no prior claims or inferred claims of entitlement to these benefits prior to March 1, 2017. The effective dates for the grants are set at March 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he currently meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his full-time employment in a leadership position until February 2019 indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantial gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot disability, left leg neuropathy, and low back disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for residuals of head trauma, a heart disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral ingrown toenails, and left foot plantar wart due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.