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

The Veteran's service treatment records contain in-service biopsies of breast growths and she reported pain and scarring due to her active service. However, no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran’s bilateral breast condition is related to her military service.,Service treatment records indicate the Veteran was treated for excessive vaginal bleeding and cervical polyps during service. She underwent surgery in 2010 which revealed uterine hypertrophy with intramural leiomyomata. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's condition pre-existed service and is not related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The claim for an extraschedular rating for bilateral pes planus with hammertoes, Morton's metatarsalgia, and right hallux rigidus is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability had its onset during his military service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral flat feet, ankle osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that his tinnitus began during active service and is related to military noise exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye disability (including retina, scarring, atrophy, or irregularities of, eye disease, vision, and visual impairment) are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is denied as there is no evidence suggesting the condition began in or is related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted, with the Board finding that it is etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury and that the current condition is not related to his right foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding no evidence of onset in or within one year after service discharge. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted as secondary to a service-connected disability.,Right and left hip disabilities were not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition. Bilateral pes planus was found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran’s obesity, which is considered a combination of factors including genetics, environment, personal diet and exercise choices.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability but denied service connection for residuals of a head injury.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying specific dates of active duty training. The VA will also seek a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as foot disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with left heel spur disability is granted a 50% rating, effective from June 26, 2015. The Veteran also received a grant of total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss disability within one year post-service.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right ankle sprain is denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for such an increase.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma is denied due to lack of findings meeting specific pulmonary function criteria.,Pension purposes are granted with a permanent and total disability rating based on multiple medical conditions rendering the Veteran unemployable.,Service connection claims for pharyngitis, gastroenteritis/gastritis, migraines, residuals of facial injury, GERD, bronchitis, tendonitis, right foot disability, residuals of infections, shin splints, mononucleosis, neurological disorder, conjunctivitis, primary anemia, and acquired psychiatric disability are all remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions will be reviewed again based on new evidence or clarification.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's spine, knee, and foot disabilities. The TDIU claim is also added to the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and bilateral foot disability due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service records. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and a thorough review of all available data.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is found to be incurred in service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be caused by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for plantar fasciitis of the right and left feet. Service connection for bilateral pitting edema is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a bilateral foot disability, left clavicle fracture, and various knee and ankle conditions, rated at 80 percent combined, do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board also granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent, and no greater, from February 26, 2009, to March 25, 2012, for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. However, the Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral pes planus was denied.,The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, patellofemoral syndrome, lumbar lordosis and rheumatoid arthritis result in functional loss of use of both feet, meeting the criteria for eligibility to receive financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and the need for an addendum opinion.