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

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus and his claims for SMC based on housebound status, a higher rating for myelofibrosis and acute myelogenous leukemia, an earlier effective date for his service-connected disability benefits, and entitlement to TDIU. The remand includes requests for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's left foot disability due to hammertoes is granted an increased rating of 40 percent from July 23, 2007 to May 16, 2017. SMC for loss of use of the left foot is granted since July 23, 2007. TDIU is granted effective July 23, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle, foot, and knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,The Board also noted that the onset of these disabilities is not within one year after discharge from service.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability (other than pes planus), finding no evidence of chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and concluding that there was insufficient medical nexus to establish a relationship between any current right foot disability and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot condition due to inadequate examination and failure to consider relevant medical records. The case is now back before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination, and it is recommended that the Veteran undergo one in order to determine if his bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for a new opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 7, 2010.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is granted. The Board has remanded the issues of initial evaluation for tension headaches, PTSD with TBI, and total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, and his right foot plantar fibromatosis is rated at 10% prior to June 1, 2014, and 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted service connection. The initial rating for tinnitus has been increased to 40 percent, effective January 31, 2017. The effective date for service connection for back disability is set at January 31, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot condition, including as secondary to his service-connected right foot avulsion fracture. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s current left foot conditions were incurred in or caused by service.,The VA examiners concluded that there was no direct link between the Veteran's current left foot conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral feet, right knee and left hip disabilities due to in-service diagnoses and functional limitations preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disability, finding no probative medical evidence that his current diagnoses were incurred in service.

Service connection for Lyme disease, GERD, bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative changes, left wrist CTS with cervical radiculopathy, and right wrist CTS is denied.,An initial compensable rating (10%) for GERD is denied. The Veteran's GERD has been well-managed with medication.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, right foot disability, sleep apnea, headaches, lumbosacral spine disability, wrist disabilities, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service experiences are considered credible, but further medical examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as he did not meet the criteria to be considered unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and bilateral pes planus, but granted service connection for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for right eye pterygium and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and a right foot disability. The case is now being returned to the RO for further development.