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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim contesting attorney fees based on past-due benefits from an April 2019 rating decision that awarded service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the bilateral foot condition. The PTSD claim is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service or service-connected bilateral foot gout.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a right foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral multiple palmar and plantar hyperkeratosis, finding that there was no CUE in the May 1968 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors are consistent with his service in Bosnia and that he experienced actual or threatened death or serious injury. The other claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran's representative.

The Board dismissed the Veteran’s claims of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs, degenerative changes mid-foot, bilaterally, and left fifth toe fracture with hallux rigidus and Morton's neuroma, as well as his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 3, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for a headache disability and a foot disability, including pes planus, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability. Additional development is needed due to new evidence and specific contentions from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CMT has been reopened and granted. The effective date of the increased rating for PTSD is set at March 21, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a 50% rating effective May 16, 2014.,The Veteran's dermatitis of the bilateral feet was granted a 10% rating effective August 8, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee conditions are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection was denied for bilateral pes planus, bilateral heel spurs, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left wrist disability, right wrist disability, migraine headaches, psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and night terrors), degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as an upper and lower back condition), left leg disability (claimed as restless leg syndrome), and bilateral foot disability (claimed as flatfeet).,The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 30% to 20% was improper and restored the original 30% rating for left heel disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate nexus opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with weak foot disability is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to June 21, 2019 and thereafter in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's right lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndrome and left lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndrome are each not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has found the VA medical opinion inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an evaluation of his umbilical hernia, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, retinal damage of the right eye, dry eye disability, sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, and a cervical spine disability. The Veteran is also being remanded for further examination to determine if he has these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining a VA medical examination.