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

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for residuals of a right toe fracture, bilateral plantar fasciitis, a left foot condition, a right foot condition, a right knee condition, and a left knee meniscus tear.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral foot disorders including gout, pes cavus, pes planus, hammer toes, and onychomycosis.

The Board has determined that the September 2019 VA examination report is incomplete and requires additional medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus aggravates his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including initial compensable ratings for various conditions and service connection for a right knee disability. The AOJ is required to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule new VA examinations, and issue an SSOC.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's employment during the pendency of the appeal prevented a determination on his claim for TDIU prior to January 17, 2018. The Board denied the claim as he failed to provide necessary evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot and bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with Tailor’s bunion, status post left bunionectomy has been granted a 50 percent rating since January 23, 2013. The matter of higher initial ratings for PTSD and TBI is remanded. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, a back disability, and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate examinations and medical opinions provided in prior decisions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating increase for hypothyroidism is granted prior to March 1, 2020. From March 1, 2020, the claim for a compensable rating for hypothyroidism is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral foot injury.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a headache disability and service connection for numbness in the feet. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

For the entire appeal period prior to September 1, 2020, a rating of 30 percent for left foot pes planus is granted.,Beginning September 1, 2020, a rating in excess of 30 percent for left foot pes planus is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right foot, left foot, and erectile dysfunction disabilities due to their secondary nature to a service-connected disability. The Veteran needs further examination to determine if his obesity is related to his service-connected low back disability, and whether any of these conditions are caused or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating prior to July 30, 2014, and his bilateral pes planus alone does not qualify him for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The Board also found that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus due to inadequate examination and failure to address lay reports of flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right foot, knee, back, stomach, and psychiatric conditions. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right foot disability and right ankle limitation of motion were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, prior to March 16, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for a greater than 30 percent disability rating for his bilateral pes planus from March 16, 2020 is denied.